More players and officials join in pitch criticism
By Our Sports Reporter
KARACHI, April 22: Promising Indian junior penalty corner striker Sandeep Singh on Thursday said the ongoing Junior Asia Cup hockey venue's defective surface was hampering short corner strikes.
"Yes it is difficult to stop and control the ball near the penalty corner spot which is hampering in the penalty corner strikes. It was because the surface dries up quickly. I am managing it after changing the place of strike," he told a post- match press conference.
Japan coach Hideki Numada was the first to complain about the pitch followed by Malaysia's Sarjit Singh and Singapore's Ronnie Yeo who had already pointed out the defect. "If you are playing on an artificial surface it should be even not bumpy like grassy field. But at HCP, it depends on luck. The team taking a penalty corner will be lucky if the ball travels smoothly at HCP," Sarjit said.
He, however did not comment when asked whether the pitch is playable. "It is a sensitive issue," he said. The list of participants complaining about the turf grew longer on Thursday when Bangladesh, Chinese Taipei and Sri Lanka also confirmed HCP surface is bumpy and uneven.
Qamar Ibraheem, a Pakistani Olympian associated with Bangladesh team as advisor, said pitch was bumpy and wrinkled at the penalty corner spot. "The uneven surface could affect teams performance but it also depends on bench officials. I have advised the players to take strike from different spot to avoid the problem," he said.
Chinese Taipei coach Mohammad Naeemuddin said: "The pitch is bumpy not only from penalty corner spots but at other places too. Obviously it will affect teams." Sri Lanka assistant coach Darshana Wijesinghe also stated the pitch was bumpy and uneven at short corner spot. "Yes it is a uneven from different places," he said.
