Colts lived up to expectation in Azlan Shah: Harendra

Published Tue, May 18 10 04:58 PM

New Delhi, May 18 (PTI) Indian hockey team''s go-young policy paid off in the just-concluded Azlan Shah Cup and the team would keep on trying new faces in the future tournaments as well, national coach Harendra Singh said. India retained the Azlan Shah title in Malaysia with a relatively young side after four experienced campaigners -- Prabhjot Singh, Sandeep Singh, Deepak Thakur and Adrian D''Souza -- were axed from the team following their dismal showing in the World Cup. Harendra lauded the selectors'' decision to inject fresh blood and said performance, not past glories, would be the lone criterion for donning the national jersey. "We went there (Azlan Shah Cup) to learn and play better hockey. We went there to try some new players and we did exactly that which is the most positive thing," Harendra told PTI after returning from Ipoh, Malaysia. "The selectors were right in inducting new players in the Azlan Shah team because it was a big experience for them. We will continue to try out new players in the upcoming tournaments. It will help us in creating a broader pool of players before the Commonwealth and Asian Games," said Harendra. Defending champions India shared the Azlan Shah Cup with Korea after the summit clash was washed out due to heavy rain. "For a player performance is the most important thing and not past glory. Whoever performs will be selected for India. A player cannot take his place for granted in the team," Harendra added. He said India''s success in the Azlan Shah Cup, where it beat top teams like world champions Australia, Pakistan and Korea en route the title, speaks volume of the team''s improvement after their ordinary showing in the World Cup earlier this year, where they finished eighth out of 12 teams. MORE PTI SSC AY

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