In a surprise move, India today axed ace drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh for the upcoming Hockey World League (HWL) Semifinal and the team's chief coach Paul van Ass justified the decision, saying it was a tactical move aimed at trying out "variations" ahead of the Rio Games.
Besides Rupinder, midfielder SK Uthappa, strikers Mandeep Singh and Satbir Singh were the other players to have been dropped from the national team for HWL Semi-final to be played in Antwerp, Belgium from June 20 to July 5.
Rupinder's axing came as a shock for all and sundry as over the last couple of years he became an integral part of the Indian team and also formed a formidable duo alongside VR Raghunath in the side's drag-flick department.
But Van Ass clarified his choice and said by no means Rupinder was out of his scheme of things.
"Of course, I am aware about that (only one drag-flicker in the team) but Jasjeet also has a good penalty corner. It's also time for us to try variations," the chief coach told reporters during a training session at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here.
"He (Rupinder) is not gone, he is not done. He didn't do anything wrong but we also have to be prepared for any eventuality. Let's be honest when Olympic starts and suppose your two drag-flickers are injured, what do you do then? So, it's always a threat and its good to try out something else now," Van Ass said.
All the four dropped players featured in last month's Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia, where India finished a creditable third, and the four-match bilateral Test series against Japan which India won 3-0.
Talking about Uthappa's ouster from the team, Van Ass said: "It's not over for the boys, they are not gone. I think he (Uthappa) doesn't play the way he is supposed to. He is a big athelete, his body is very big but he doesn't use it too much. I asked him to do that more and he can comeback again.
"During team selections you have to be your best and also you have to fit in the tactical plan of coach.
"Now we have a new core group of 33 and from that group I can always pick my players for a big tournament. Those guys will have to fight for positions until the Olympics," he added.
