Best talent for PM's Gold Cup

CHENNAI, MARCH. 3. The last of the three match India-Germany hockey series, jointly organised by the Sports Authority of India and Tamil Nadu Hockey Association (TNHA) begins at the SDAT Radhakrishnan Stadium here on Sunday.

Speaking to newspersons, after receiving both the teams that arrived from Hyderabad on Friday evening, Mr. K. Jyothi Kumaran, Secretary, Tamil Nadu Hockey Association, expressed his happiness on the match being allotted to Chennai and said that TNHA and SAI are making their best efforts to make the match a success from the organising point of view.

Talking about the team selection for the ten nation's Prime Minister's Gold Cup to be held in Dhaka from March 10-20, Mr. Jyoti Kumaran explained that the final team will be selected after the training camp here from March 5 to 9. The final team for Dhaka will be announced on March 9.

Jyothi Kumaran said that the second string Indian team, which won the Akhbar El Yon international championship in Cairo recently, will also be considered for selection. ``We may consider the best talent there,'' said Mr. K. Jyoti Kumaran. ``Sameer Dad and Jagan Senthil will not be playing in the final match as they are suffering from ligament injuries.''

He also talked about the junior team and its preparations for the junior World Cup in Hobart (Australia).

India in Pool A

India is placed in Pool A along with Japan, Scotland, Bangladesh and Singapore in the 10-nation Prime Minister's Gold Cup hockey tournament to be staged at Dhaka from March 10 to 20. Pakistan heads the other pool along with China, Egypt, Ireland and Malaysia. India takes on Singapore on March 11 while Pakistan plays China on the same day.

The following are the fixtures:

March 10: Egypt v Malaysia; Bangladesh v Singapore.

March 11: Japan v Scotland; China v Pakistan; Egypt v Ireland; India v Singapore.

March 12: China v Ireland; Bangladesh v Japan.

March 13: India v Scotland; Malaysia v Pakistan.

March 14: Japan v Singapore; China v Egypt; Bangladesh v Scotland.

March 15: Ireland v Malaysia; Pakistan v Egypt; Japan v India.

March 16: Scotland v Singapore; Malaysia v China; Pakistan v Ireland; Bangladesh v India.

March 18: Classification matches (3rd of Pool A v 4th of Pool B; 4th of Pool A v 3rd of Pool B).

March 18: Semifinals.

March 19: Matches for the 9th and 10th, 7th and 8th, 5th and 6th places.

March 20: Final and match for third and fourth places.

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