The veteran drag-flicker V.R. Raghunath praises the present team of Indian Hockey, all set for the upcoming Olympics scheduled to held in Tokyo. Although the famous player will not be a part of the current team, he expresses full confidence in it for a wonderful paly this time.
The national team, defeated by Belgium in the quarter-finals, ranked 8th in the last Olympics in Rio de Janerio (2016).
“Drew in Canada match costs us in 2016. It had put us into a different qualification team, but this time as I believe we are more prepared. The present national team is going to handle the celebrated Games way lot better than Rio de Janerio,” he was quoted as saying in a Hockey India release. He also has a high opinion for the present vice-captain Harmanpreet Singh, who superseded him as a drag-flicker to the team.
Raghunath is one of the noted players of Indian Men Hockey. He showed his performance as a full stacker but drew appreciation for his abilities as a drag-flicker. Serving as a vice-president of the Karnataka Hockey Association, Raghunath was a part of team India when it won Gold in Asia Cup (2007), gold again in Asian Games (2014), Bronze in Hockey World League (2015), silver in Commonweath Games (2014) and Asia Cup (2013), and Silver again in Champions Trophy (2016) in London. In Asia Cup (2013), he scored six goals and was awarded the “Best Player of the Tournament.”
