Intra-squad Hockey Games Right Warm-up for Tokyo Olympics: Striker Akashdeep Singh

Experienced hockey striker Akashdeep Singh is unperturbed by the dearth of pre-Olympic Games excursions attributable to Covid-enforced journey restrictions and says that intra-squad matches are offering good preparation. The Olympic probables are presently coaching on the Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) centre in Bengaluru, and trying to copy the high-intensity 60-minute worldwide matches to make up for aggressive matches.

“We usually are not letting it play on our minds. Many groups have confronted related conditions the place excursions or matches have been cancelled as a result of pandemic and we aren’t the one ones. But I really feel the Indian workforce was lucky to get some publicity in Europe and Argentina [in March and April]. Some actually good matches have been performed and we might analyse the extent we’re at towards actually robust opponents,” said Singh.

“With no international matches scheduled for now, in every training session and intra-squad matches we play every week, there is expectation to bring out our best and push each other to improve. I feel these intra-squad matches every week brings out the best in us,” mentioned the Arjuna Award winner.