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India

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

NEW DELHI: The Indian women's hockey team returned home after a successful tournament in Russia. The Indian team won the one-off Test match against Russia and finished on top in a three-nation 'friendly' tournament which also involved Ukraine.


"It was a good experience for the newcomers in the team," said captain Suraj Lata. "We got an opportunity to judge them and give them some exposure."

Coach M.K. Kaushik appeared happy for obvious reasons. "I hardly got enough time to train them," Kaushik said. "But I am very happy that they picked up fast and won the tournament. It's a good beginning and we are looking forward to tough challenges ahead," he added.

Unfortunately, the exploits of the Indian team went unnoticed as there was no communication between the federation and the team. "I myself don't know the results," said Amrit Bose, the secretary of the Indian Women's Hockey Federation (IWHF) when asked about the outcome of the tournament.

Kaushik informed that there was no way of communicating the information to IWHF as they were put up at a place which was away from main city. "On the first day we sent it through the Indian Embassy there but that cost us 400 roubles in travel alone," Kaushik said.

In the absence of sufficient monetary resources the team officials avoided making any unncessary expenses which included going to the Indian embassy and faxing the results from there.

The women's hockey team doesn't get the $20 pocket allowance unlike other players while going for tournaments abroad. The team manager was, however, given $200 for miscellaneous expenses. Though the boarding and lodging was taken care by the Russian Hockey Federation, the Indian girls had a tough time adjusting to the food there and they couldn't afford to eat outside regularly.

Their woes continued when the goalkeeper's luggage and a few hockey sticks were withheld at Moscow airport as the team was not carrying the necessary letter requesting for allowance of extra-baggage.

Results of the matches: (only Indian scorers) India bt Russia 7-1: Annarita Kerketta 3 (hat-trick), Neha Singh, Sanggai Imbhel Chanu, Jyoti Sunita Kullu, Adline Kerketta; India drew Ukrain 2-2: Annarita Kerketta, Sanggai Channu; Ukraine bt India 4-2: Surinder Kaur, Gurpreet Kaur; India drew Russia 2-2: Suman Bala, Sanggai Chanu; India bt Russia 3-0: Annarita Kerketta, Adline Kerketta 2.

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