Gurwinder Singh Chandi will strengthen forward line: Terry Walsh

GLASGOW: India hockey coach Terry Walsh feels Gurwinder Singh Chandi's re-induction into the team after more then a year in wilderness will add quite a bit of zing to the side's attack in the upcoming Commonwealth Games here.

The forward line-up of the Indian team has S V Sunil (137 caps), Gurwinder Singh Chandi (97 caps), Akashdeep (41 caps), Ramandeep Singh (11 caps) and Nikkin Thimmaiah (11 caps).

Speaking on his comeback, Chandi said, "I am happy that I am back in the Indian team and that too for a big tournament, the Commonwealth Games. Although the comeback took me one and a half years but I utilised this period to work on my game which I will be using to my strength during the Commonwealth Games.

"The team is working hard on the forward position wherein our Chief Coach Terry Walsh is pushing us to give our best during these sessions and this has helped us to get closely weaved with each other's style of game on the field."

However, Chandi said the team has to contend with some very tough competition.

"Australia is a pretty tough team in our Pool to compete with but we will perform at our best against every team that we play against according to the strategies prepared by our coaches. I am sure that we will be able to deliver and live up to the expectations of our fans."

Speaking on the forward line of the team, Walsh said, "We have one of the best forward line as compared to the tournaments in the recent past.

The two young players, Nikkin Thimmaiah and Ramandeep Singh who got injured before the start of the World Cup are set to make their comeback along with an experienced senior player Gurwinder Singh Chandi is a sign of added power to the our forward line."