Men’s Hockey National Camp to culminate a week earlier on December 12, announces SAI

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Team India have already qualified for next year's Olympics.

The ongoing Men’s hockey national camp will end on December 12, a week earlier from the initial culmination date set initially. The training, which is taking place at the Bangalore SAI centre is ending before intended on the recommendation of coach Graham Reid. 

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Team India have already qualified for next year’s Olympics.

The players will take a three-week break before rejoining camp on January 5. Players have been undergoing the ongoing camp for four months now.

“After four months of continuous camp, it would give the athletes a longer break of three weeks, from December 12, 2020 to January 5, 2021,” Hockey India said in an official release

The camp, which began in August, saw a huge outbreak of COVID-19 which affected six players in the squad. skipper Manpreet Singh, striker Mandeep Singh, defenders Surender Kumar, Jaskaran Singh, drag-flicker Varun Kumar and goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak were the players who tested positive upon arrival.

SAI centre in Bangalore has been the site of training for the hockey players after the phasing out of the lockdown was implemented. The initial months of lockdown saw no sporting activities being conducted and the players required the camp to get back in rhythm.

“A comprehensive strength and conditioning program will be given to the athletes by the chief coach and scientific advisor (Robin Arkell) of the men’s senior team to complete during the break,” the Sports Authority of India (SAI) said in a statement.

The team have already sealed their spot for next year’s Tokyo Olympics, but are yet to contest in a competitive match in almost 8 months. The contingent would be aspiring to pit in a better display at the Olympics following an 8th place finish at the 2016 Rio Olympics under the leadership of PR Sreejesh.

The Tokyo Olympics is slated to take place next year from July 23- August 8. (ANI)

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The initial months of lockdown saw no sporting activities being conducted and the players required the camp to get back in rhythm.

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