Strange are the ways of Indian hockey. Less than six months after they announced their retirement from international hockey, dragflick ace Rupinder Pal Singh and defender Birendra Lakra are preparing for their comeback.
The duo, along with strikers SV Sunil and Ramandeep Singh, have been named in the core probables for the India 'A' team. Hockey India president Gyanendro Ningombam termed Birendra Lakra and his Tokyo Olympic Games teammate, Rupinder Pal Singh, and SV Sunil will make a comeback the move "… a positive development aimed at widening the talent pool for selection."
It could also mean that preparations are on to form the proposed second-string team for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham later this year. Given the workload of the main team, CWG is hardly a priority for India, especially with the Asian Games to follow and a 2024 Paris Olympics berth at stake at the continental event in Hangzhou.
While Rupinderpal and Lakra were part of the bronze medal winning team at the Olympics, Sunil and Ramandeep had fallen out of favour with head coach Graham Reid in the run-up to the quadrennial extravaganza and failed to make the squad to Tokyo. Sunil, who did not announce his retirement like his peers, had said he was taking a break from the sport and was not available for camps last year. The 'A' team will be coached by former skipper Sardar Singh, who has played alongside all the four seasoned players.
A corresponding women's team, to be coached by former striker Deepak Thakur, too is being readied. The probables - 33 on each side - will begin training at SAI, South Centre, in Bengaluru from Monday.
