India: Ten Sports' salute to hockey team
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| India |
August 13, 2003
The Hindu
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By Our Special Correspondent
MUMBAI Aug. 13. Ten Sports channel has latched onto an unique concept, linking India's Independence Day celebrations to the National men's hockey squad's aspirations as a build-up to the 2003 Champions Trophy tournament commencing at Amstelveen on August 16.
The Dubai-based channel, telecasting live the six-nation event, has conceived a special programme, to go on air on August 14 titled `My heart beats for India' wherein the players, now already in The Netherlands, talk about their most emotional moments playing in the National colours.
Spearhead Dhanraj Pillay, ace defender Dilip Tirkey, goal-keeper Devesh Chouhan and chief coach Rajinder Singh are some of the names featured.
Explaining the rationale behind the concept, decided by the channels's creative team, Mohit Mehra, Manager (Marketing) says: "For a very long the players have been playing for little more than National pride. `My heart beats for India' has some of the most important people in Indian hockey at the moment talking about their most memorable experiences while representing the country".
Rajinder Singh talks about the 1980 Moscow Olympics gold as well as his three performances in the 1982 Champions Trophy, where India finished with the only bronze medal won so far in the six-nation tournament. As a coach, he believes that the 2003 Dhanraj-led squad may better that performance.
The captain recalls some of his greatest moments against Pakistan, especially the Chennai South Asian Federation Games final.
Former skipper Tirkey dwells on the heartbreak at Sydney Olympics against Poland where a draw forced India out of the semifinal race.
Devesh Chouhan talks about his performances under the bar against Pakistan in the Busan Asian Games semifinal against the feared Sohail Abbas.
India begins its campaign against host and Olympic champion The Netherlands on August 16 in the six-team round-robin league, the concluding game scheduled against arch-rival Pakistan on August 22.
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