Indian players lack fitness, skill: Olympian Balbir

Moga, Mar 30 (UNI) Former India Captain Balbir Singh senior today blamed the dismal performance of the Indian hockey in the olympics to lack of fitness and skill in comparison with players of other countries.

The only triple winning Olympion Balbir was also critical of frequent changes and sacking of hockey coaches by the Indian Hockey Federation.

Talking to UNI here today, Balbir also slammed the Indian hockey team players for ''indulging in selfish dribbling'', which he considered most dangerous to modern hockey.

Balbir expressed grave concern over worst ever performance of Indian hockey team in Asian Games when they returned last year from Doha without a medal for the first time and suggested Indian Hockey Federation appoint hockey coaches at least for four years.

He also urged the IHF to give top priority to physical fitness during coaching camps to be able to meet the challenge of their mostly well-built opponents.

Here to visit his alma mater Dev Samaj Higher Secondary school, where he spent 10 years, Balbir said that proper training and motivation in the early years had contributed a lot to his success in the game.

Later, while interacting with 50 boys chosen as trainees of Dala hockey academy, he impressed upon them the need for regular practice and physical training to achieve success.

''The entire credit of my achievements in hockey goes to Ishwar Singh, Ajmer Singh and Rattan Singh- Headmaster, second master and physical education teacher and hockey coach respectively as they played vital role in moulding my character as a dedicated and disciplined soldier of the game,'' he told them.

UNI