The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : Platform for young talent: Tirkey

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 09, 2005

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Platform for young talent: Tirkey

HYDERABAD, JAN. 8. Dilip Tirkey, who will be leading Hyderabad Sultans in the prestigious Premier Hockey League commencing at Gachibowli Complex here from January 13, feels that the whole concept of the league should be the right platform for the young talent in India to improve upon their own standards.

Speaking to media on the sidelines of the promotional campagin for the PHL organised by ESPN here this afternoon, the Indian captain said the PHL could well be the beginning of a new chapter in Indian hockey.

On his team in the League, he said he felt it was strong in the defence and added that the presence of Pakistani great Sohail Abbas should be a major boost.

"We will take advantage of his presence by forcing as many penalty-corners as possible," he said.

Predictably, Dilip refused to entertain any debate on whether the Indian players were happy being paid less appearance money than the Pakistanis.

"It is for the Indian Hockey Federation to decide. I just wish that this PHL goes off very well," he said.

To a query, he said Maratha Warriors, led by Viren Rasquinha should be a major contender for the top honours.

Meanwhile, hockey Olympian Mukesh Kumar and former All England champion P. Gopichand joined Tirkey in a promotional campaign for the PHL.

Mukesh and Gopichand will be rooting for Hyderabad Sultans and wished Tirkey the best of luck and hoped his team would emerge "Sultans" in the PHL.

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