Suports Guru

Hockey

Converting Penalty Corners Will be UP Wizards' Strength: VR Raghunath



New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Wizards captain V.R. Raghunath said on Friday his team will rely on penalty corner conversions to go all the way in the Hero Hockey India League (HIL) starting on January 22.


Being among the top drag-flickers of the world, the Karnataka player led the Wizards twice and took the team to the semifinals of the previous two editions. The Indian defender plans to materialise maximum scoring opportunities through penalty corners.


"The league this time is going to be tough as the best players of the world will take part in it. The strength of our team will be the drag-flicking skills," he said in a statement.


The 26-year-old drag-flick specialist was third in the lists of the top goal scorers of both the previous two editions.


Proving his worth and becoming a motivation to the defence line of Wizards in the first season of the HIL, Raghunath scored a total number of nine goals where all the goals came from penalty corner conversions. He scored four goals to help the team take third position.


Trailing the achievement of the first season, he scored eight goals again from penalty corners in the subsequent edition. However, his team failed to finish on the podium.


In addition to Raghunath, the team also has the service of the Netherlands goal-poacher Jeroen Hertzberger, who didn't play last time citing busy international schedule.


Raghunath said that their defence has been strengthened due to the availability of talented Dutch internationals Marcel Balkestein and Jolie Wouter.


"I am excited to share the field with Harbir Singh, the Netherlands' Marcel Balkestein and Jolie Wouter, who are surely a boost to our defence line-up. I look forward to the third season and aiming to improve our position by finishing on a winning note this time."


Top Stories










Headline

India has a good tradition in tennis, says Venus Williams Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams feels that the success of...
Messi set for summer move to Chelsea? Current Premier League leaders Chelsea are monitoring the relationship...
Virat Kohli best-placed Indian at No. 2 in ICC ODI rankings Prolific batsman Virat Kohli is the best-placed Indian at the second spot...

Hot Picks

Saina Nehwal, Kidambi Srikanth Take Indian Badminton to New Heights in 2014 It turned out to be a watershed year for Indian badminton as the home shuttlers ..
FIFA Rankings FIFA Ranking -Football

Top Videos

Deepika Padukone Plays Tennis with Roger Federer Roger Federer's maiden trip to India is full of excitement and unforgettable memories with the 17-time...
Gayle Sixes CPL 2014 CPL 2014: Blistering Chris Gayle hundred fires Jamaica Tallawahs to ...
Sachin Tendulkars 200th and final test match of his career Sachin Tendulkar took to the pitch on November 14, 2013 for his 200th and ...
Top 10 Own Goals in Football Football's 10 Most Spectacular Own Goals. It's true, modern ... So good it was, he probably should've celebrated.

Editor's Pick

Boston is US candidate to host 2024 Olympics
Great pity that athletes lobby to receive awards
Will India ever produce a singles Grand Slam champion?