Indian Hockey

Press, Volume C, Issue 29506, 6 May 1961, Page 5

Indian Hockey

Shocked by their defeat by Pakistan in the 1960 Olympic games hockey final, the Indian team which will tour New Zealand this year will be endeavouring to build up hockey in India and will be all out to defeat New Zealand in the test series, said J. Abrams, a member of the 1960 Olympic New Zealand hockey team, in a recent talk to Ashburton hockey enthusiasts. Abrams and R. Gillespie, another member of the hockey team showed slides on the trip to and from Rome and talked of their experiences overseas. Speaking of the difference of style of play at Rome from that at Melbourne in 1956. Abrams said that there was now much more hard hitting. “In Melbourne there was more short passing.” he said. During the tour of Pakistan and India on the way home from Rome the team played wonderful hockey as the tension of playing for a medal at Rome, was off. This tour was more of a goodwill tour. In the eight weeks that they were away the hockey team played an average of one game in every two days, said Gillespie. This included practice games. While they were in India they had to be careful of the food they ate. Milk and water were out. However, food at the first-class hotels was very good, he said. V