National camp for Indian hockey players begins in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: Ahead of the Hockey Asian Champions Trophy, a national camp of the Indian Hockey team kicked off at Kalinga Stadium here today.

Players of the national team who arrived in Bhubaneswar today will be part of the camp that will continue for almost a month. The Asian Champions Trophy will be held in Muscat, Oman from October 18.

Indian Hockey national team coach Harendra Singh has said that the Asian Champions Trophy will be a step up for the players ahead of the much awaited World Cup scheduled to be played here.

"Such tournaments help players to rectify their mistakes and prepare themselves for a much bigger event like the World cup," Singh said.

Odisha is going to host the Hockey World Cup from November 28 to December 16. The state has also purchased the sponsorship rights for the national hockey team for the next five years.