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HYDERABAD, Oct 9: Having already lost Friendship Hockey Series 1-4, against arch rivals Pakistan, India are certainly a dejected lot and will now play for pride in the last match to be played under floodlights on Sunday in Hyderabad.
The conditions at Gachibowli Complex here will be more ideal for a game of hockey on Sunday as against matches so far which have been played in mid-afternoon under a blazing sun.
Tirkey was forced to watch the action from sidelines following a blow he took on the chin in opening match of Indian leg at Delhi which resulted in a hairline fracture.
Although the team management has admitted that Tirkey's absence forced it to change their game plans in Chandigarh and Amritsar, it declined to make it as an excuse for the team's failure to win matches.
"Tirkey's absence is a big blow as he was central to our plan of things. But that should not be an excuse. We got so many chances to score in the last two matches but failed to take advantage of those. That mattered in the end," assistant coach Jagbir Singh said.
TIRKEY HOPEFUL
NEW DELHI: India hockey captain Dilip Tirkey said he would play in eighth and final Test against arch rivals Pakistan at Hyderabad despite suffering a hairline fracture after being hit in The face by a ball five days ago.
"I have some swelling but no pain as of now. I am planning to play in Hyderabad match on Sunday," said the man who has over 300 internationals under his belt since his debut in 1995. He was injured during Delhi Test against Pakistan.
Asked if he could last full distance of 70 minutes, the 26-year-old said: "Yes, I guess I can. I think I can play the full match. Let's see."
Since Pakistan have already taken an unassailable 4-1 lead in eight-match series, final match is of academic interest only.
The right full back said he was hit in the face when the ball, off a hit taken by Pakistan's Sohail Abbas, ricocheted off Indian goalkeeper Adrian D'Souza's body.
"The ball came off some part of Adrina or his stick and hit right side of my face," said Tirkey.-PPI
