The national hockey camp, which was to resume at the Balewadi Sports Complex here, is being shifted to Bangalore. Mohammed Aslam Khan, secretary-general of the newly-formed Hockey India, has told DNA that the move was necessitated as Pune has become the epicentre of H1N1 virus in the country.
According to the convenor of the selection committee, the players will assemble in Bangalore on August 24.
“There is a fear among the players and the officials of Hockey India about the situation in the city,” Khan revealed. The Indian team rounded up their European tour on a positive note holding European Champions the Netherlands 3-3 at the Wagener Stadium in Amsteelven on Sunday. The team is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Maharashtra Hockey Association’s Ikram Khan, who has been associated with the camp since its start in July, confirmed the news.
“The virus threat is there in Bangalore as well but there is a feeling that Pune is more dangerous,” he said.
Meanwhile, injured goalkeeper Baljit Singh will meet his surgeon for a check-up later on Monday at the Alabama hospital in the US. According to Khan, Baljit, who was successfully operated upon last Tuesday, was feeling better but his eye remains bandaged.
