Probables should have been allowed to play in WSH: Prabhjot

Former India players Prabhjot Singh and Gagan Ajit Singh today said the standoff between HI and IHF was not helping the cause of the players and the sport and HI should not have barred the probables, named for the national camp, to play in the WSH.u00a0

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"Hockey India should not have imposed any restriction on the national players to participate in the World Series Hockey. The tussle between the two federations should come to an end as it's the players who are suffering because of it," said Prabhjot.u00a0

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"Whatever the problem between the federations, it should not affect the players," said Gagan.u00a0

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Prabhot said had top current Indian stars were allowed to feature in the WSH, the game could have become more popular. u00a0"WSH is all about promoting the game and it's the players who have to take steps to promote hockey through such initiatives. It's the biggest hockey event happening in the world where best international players are participating. It's helping the players financially.

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u00a0"If you look at the Indian Premier League, the players were allowed to participate in the event resulting in its massive popularity. If national players are allowed to participate in the WSH, I am sure that one day it would be able to match the popularity of the IPL," said Prabhjot, who was part of the team that finished seventh in the last Olympic Games that India took part at Athens in 2004.u00a0

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The Athens Olympian was of the view that even in the absence of the national players, the tournament received good crowd support.u00a0

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