BHUBANESWAR: A sportsperson is more liable to accidents than somebody else, but every now and then some atypical instances additionally play a job in an damage. Veteran India ahead SV Sunil's occupation seems to have taken a an identical flip.
The Kalinga Stadium right here has been turned into a cutting-edge facility, at the centre of which is a newly-laid turf. The placing blue floor has new stands round it bearing the phrase 'Odisha' at the chest, grabbing rapid attention like a catchphrase on a T-shirt.
That's the pictorial appeal of the venue for the year-end FIH Men's Hockey World Cup. On a technical observe, a new floor takes time to settle, which is not anything atypical. But keeping a national camp on a freshly laid turf, just over a month before the World Cup was once always going to be a dangerous affair.
The unlucky part of the tale is that veteran India striker SV Sunil unearths himself injured and has been all but dominated out of the World Cup, which has been a big jolt to India's preparations.
A lateral collateral ligament (LCL) damage in the left knee throughout training has all but ended Sunil's World Cup hopes, as he walked on crutches around the dugout at the opening rite of the stadium right here on Wednesday.
"It's a beautiful pitch, and the venue can now challenge every hockey stadium in the world. But any new surface needs time to settle. There's nothing wrong in that. A fresh pitch is always a bit slippery in the beginning" stated a stadium professional who did not need to be named.
Sunil, it has been learnt, was once particularly cautioned about this, since he is known to dash down the correct flank with the ball. However, on one such occasion throughout a training consultation one week back, he tried to head for a opposite hit at the finish of his run and fell down, jamming his left knee into the ground in the process.
As a consequence, he was once sidelined for the exhibition fit between Dhanraj Pillay XI and Dilip Tirkey XI, which was once played to mark the inauguration of the stadium. But what is more critical is that his World Cup could be over.
"It's a loaded question. You can't say for certain (about what caused the injury), but it's a loaded question," stated former India coach Michael Nobbs. The Australian has of past due labored as a pitch expert with an organization that manufactures artificial grass.
"A new surface has a very waxy feel to it, making it slippery," stated Nobbs, explaining it further with the example of the London Olympics.
"In London, before the 2012 Olympics, they gave the surface a good 3-4 months time by holding club matches, because it was skiddy, had uneven bounce. So by the time the Olympics arrived, the pitch was ready," Nobbs added.
Former India striker and the government-appointed Observer for hockey in India, Jagbir Singh, stated the decision to hold the national camp on a new pitch may also be viewed both tactics.
"You also want to acclimatize to the venue ahead of the World Cup. At the same time, if the team management finds anything risky, the training sessions should be planned accordingly. But that doesn't mean there is anything wrong with the pitch. Every new surface takes time to settle," Jagbir stated.
"An injury can happen to anyone, at anytime, but you also need to consider that the World Cup is less than two months away. So, prevention is always better than cure," he added.
Sunil was once flown to Delhi on Thursday for a last review by Hockey India's professional doctor, Dr. BK Nayak, but the chances of him getting better in time for the premier match in November are very narrow.
After enjoying the Asian Champions Trophy in Muscat, Oman, the Indian team will re-assemble at the Kalinga Stadium for a camp ahead of the World Cup that begins on November 28. In the hot previous, camps for all Indian teams, both women and men, had been held at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Centre in Bengaluru.
The Kalinga Stadium right here has been turned into a cutting-edge facility, at the centre of which is a newly-laid turf. The placing blue floor has new stands round it bearing the phrase 'Odisha' at the chest, grabbing rapid attention like a catchphrase on a T-shirt.
That's the pictorial appeal of the venue for the year-end FIH Men's Hockey World Cup. On a technical observe, a new floor takes time to settle, which is not anything atypical. But keeping a national camp on a freshly laid turf, just over a month before the World Cup was once always going to be a dangerous affair.
The unlucky part of the tale is that veteran India striker SV Sunil unearths himself injured and has been all but dominated out of the World Cup, which has been a big jolt to India's preparations.
A lateral collateral ligament (LCL) damage in the left knee throughout training has all but ended Sunil's World Cup hopes, as he walked on crutches around the dugout at the opening rite of the stadium right here on Wednesday.
"It's a beautiful pitch, and the venue can now challenge every hockey stadium in the world. But any new surface needs time to settle. There's nothing wrong in that. A fresh pitch is always a bit slippery in the beginning" stated a stadium professional who did not need to be named.
Sunil, it has been learnt, was once particularly cautioned about this, since he is known to dash down the correct flank with the ball. However, on one such occasion throughout a training consultation one week back, he tried to head for a opposite hit at the finish of his run and fell down, jamming his left knee into the ground in the process.
As a consequence, he was once sidelined for the exhibition fit between Dhanraj Pillay XI and Dilip Tirkey XI, which was once played to mark the inauguration of the stadium. But what is more critical is that his World Cup could be over.
"It's a loaded question. You can't say for certain (about what caused the injury), but it's a loaded question," stated former India coach Michael Nobbs. The Australian has of past due labored as a pitch expert with an organization that manufactures artificial grass.
"A new surface has a very waxy feel to it, making it slippery," stated Nobbs, explaining it further with the example of the London Olympics.
"In London, before the 2012 Olympics, they gave the surface a good 3-4 months time by holding club matches, because it was skiddy, had uneven bounce. So by the time the Olympics arrived, the pitch was ready," Nobbs added.
Former India striker and the government-appointed Observer for hockey in India, Jagbir Singh, stated the decision to hold the national camp on a new pitch may also be viewed both tactics.
"You also want to acclimatize to the venue ahead of the World Cup. At the same time, if the team management finds anything risky, the training sessions should be planned accordingly. But that doesn't mean there is anything wrong with the pitch. Every new surface takes time to settle," Jagbir stated.
"An injury can happen to anyone, at anytime, but you also need to consider that the World Cup is less than two months away. So, prevention is always better than cure," he added.
Sunil was once flown to Delhi on Thursday for a last review by Hockey India's professional doctor, Dr. BK Nayak, but the chances of him getting better in time for the premier match in November are very narrow.
After enjoying the Asian Champions Trophy in Muscat, Oman, the Indian team will re-assemble at the Kalinga Stadium for a camp ahead of the World Cup that begins on November 28. In the hot previous, camps for all Indian teams, both women and men, had been held at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Centre in Bengaluru.
Has national camp on virgin pitch put Sunil out of WC?
![Has national camp on virgin pitch put Sunil out of WC?]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
October 13, 2018
Rating:
