If India doesn’t win gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games (September 23) and ensure direct qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics, it may need to play qualifiers in Spain or Pakistan.
Failure to win at Asian Games may necessitate travel to Pakistan for Olympic qualifiers
If India doesn’t win gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games (September 23) and ensure direct qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics, it may need to play qualifiers in Spain or Pakistan.
It could be tricky if it is Pakistan, but Hockey India (HI) president Dilip Tirkey has said the team will travel across the border if duty calls.
“We will be trying to get the job done in Hangzhou. But if we fail to qualify, then there are a couple of venues that have been identified for the qualifiers - Pakistan and Spain. So, wherever it happens, we will definitely go," the former India captain said on Wednesday.
However, it is not enough merely for HI and the players to be willing. They will need government clearance.
Tirkey was speaking on the eve of the Asian Champions Trophy in Chennai, which will feature world No. 4 India, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Japan and China.
Asked if players were exposing themselves to the risk of injury at the Asian Champions Trophy, with the Asian Games just weeks away, Tirkey said injuries could also happen during training.
"The most important thing to note is that we play practice matches before every major event. Don't we have the fear of getting injured then? So, I think we should take this event on a positive note as a medium of preparation, and it is also a competitive event," he said. "There is still over a month for the Asian Games. Injuries can happen even during practice matches. So, I don't think we should be too bothered by it and focus on delivering our best here."
Asian Hockey Federation CEO Mohammad Tayyab Ikram also defended the scheduling.
"If you think that this Champions Trophy will not help, and all these six teams should stay at home before the Hangzhou Asian Games, I'm sorry to say that it will not happen. Some of these sides will play even after the Champions Trophy, including some Test matches," he said.
"So, I think this is very well fitted for the preparation of the Asian Games. You are playing most of the main competitors and aiming for a better 2024 (Paris Olympics) qualifying position."