Thaindian News

New Delhi, Dec 1 (IANS) Six more Indian players pulled out of the World Series Hockey (WSH) Thursday citing national camp for the Olympic qualifier that would coincide with the rebel league starting December 17.

The six players — Rupinder Pal Singh, Danish Mujtaba, Kangujam Chinglensana Singh, Manjeet Kullu, Birendra Lakra and Manpreet Singh — in a letter assured the parent body Hockey India (HI) that they would attend the national camp that starts December 11 here at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium. All the players are currently with the national team in the Champions Challenge I in South Africa.

Captain and goalkeeper Bharat Chettri, Sreejesh, ace drag-flicker Sandeep Singh, Tushar Khandekar, Sardar Singh and rising star Yuvraj Walmiki have already pulled out of the league Wednesday.

The six new players in a similarly worded letter to HI secretary-general Narinder Batra said they would not be playing in the WSH at the expense of national duty.

“We are not playing in the World Series Hockey event and we will be attending the national camp in Delhi for the Olympic qualifiers on December 11, 2011, until February 2012. We will be available for selection in the national team for the Olympic qualifiers,” said the letter issued by HI, which bears the signatures of all the six players.

“We signed the contract with World Series Hockey under the impression that WSH will not force us to play and ask us to leave the national camp,” the letter said. “We play for our country and that is a matter of honour and pride for us.”

They said they wanted the WSH to be postponed till the Olympic qualifiers that would be held here from February 15.

“We appeal to World Series Hockey to postpone their tournament after the qualifiers in the national interest,” they said in the letter.

IHF president R.K. Shetty said the players have not approached them with any request.

“The IHF haven’t received any request from the players. It is a ploy to sabotage the WSH,” Shetty said.