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Happy with India’s performance: SV Sunil
The Indian senior men’s hockey team escaped with a 3-2 win against France riding on a fine minute goal from Ramandeep Singh, following a superbly crafted move by skipper Sardar Singh.
France, in fact, left nobody in doubt that they are a much better side than what their current world ranking of 18 actually suggests. One man, who watched the anxious dying moments from back home in India was injured striker SV Sunil.
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The 26-year-old Coorg lad, who was a certainty in the side for the world league semis, sustained a left shin bone injury, forcing him to give the marquee event a miss. Sunil was happy to see his team garner full points.
“It’s good that we got full points and it went right down to the wire. I’m happy for the team,” he quips.
This tournament will help India for Rio Olympics
He dwells on his injury, which surfaced during last month’s four test series against Japan.
“I had sustained this left shin bone injury during the camp for the Japan series and I did featured in two games to see how I can cope up. There was pain and I told the coach and an X-ray was performed which revealed swelling and demanded adequate rest.”
How frustrating it is to sit out owing to an injury before a major tournament? “Frustration is there, I also got injured during the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and not playing two big events owing to injury is disturbing. I have started training mainly running, and would pick up the stick next week. To be honest, if I had continued playing carrying this injury, doctors told me that I will be out of competitive action for three to four months, so it was wise to play safe and not aggravate my injury,” Sunil reveals.
For now, the Indian striker is busy with his younger sister’s marriage. “ My sister is getting married – her would-be husband is a software engineer based in Mumbai,” he says with a grin.
As a parting note, he feels the world league experience will really help India ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympics.
“You don’t always get to play top teams fielding their full strength sides – in that context the world league is a wonderful opportunity for India to know where it stands and also areas to work on ahead of Rio Olympics.”
