India warm up with win over Germany

LUCKNOW: India downed Germany in a match to warm up for the Champions Trophy. The Indians won by 4-3 with defender Kanwalpreet Singh slamming in two penalty corners. The Champions Trophy begins on August 16 with India opening against hosts and holders Holland. Other teams in the fray are Australia, Pakistan and Argentina.
Talking to TNN from Amstelveen, Indian Hockey Federation secretary general K Jothi Kumaran said both the outfits played cautiously so that no players gets hurt prior to the all-important trophy.
He added all the players are fighting fit and ready to give off their best to extend the good work by the national team recently.
India claimed two titles in succession in Australia and Hamburg and have raised hopes of another good showing.
About the weather, he said the playing conditions are more or less like the players had back in Lucknow. The only difference is that the place is windy.
The local prediction is that the weather may improve a bit in coming days, he informed adding that the Indians, as told by chief coach Rajinder Singh, have adapted themselves to the conditions well with regular practice sessions.
The Indian team had arrived in Amtelveen on August 11 with a view to acclimatise themselves properly.
India have not decided about the first 16 as yet. The chief coach Singh is likely to sit with other coaches Baldev Singh and A B Subbaiah on Friday to select the two names that will be dropped out of 18 players on the trip.
Meanwhile Pakistan lost the second and last Test against The Dutch by a huge 2-5 margin on Wednesday. With this defeat, Pakistan lost the series 0-1. Both the teams had played an entertaining 4-4 draw in the opening encounter.