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Hockey best bet for India at the Olympics: Gill

Indian Hockey Federation president K P S Gill Tuesday said hockey is the only sport in which the country could hope for a medal at September's Sydney Olympics, and exhorted youngsters to take to the game.

"We need to get the best talent to play hockey. No other discipline can ensure a place in Olympics," he told reporters in Delhi, at function to felicitate the Indian under-16 hockey team which won the sub-junior Asia Cup in Singapore over the weekend.

Gill said India's triumph at Singapore was reminiscent of the golden period of Indian hockey. "It reminds me of the old days. I feel like the glorious days of hockey are coming back," the jubilant IHF chief said.

India finished unbeaten in the eight-nation inaugural edition of the tournament and defeated Bangladesh 5-2 in the final on Sunday.

Gill was all praise for the youngsters. "Our boys scored 35 goals and conceded just two (against Bangladesh in the final) in the entire tournament. That is indicative of the total dominance that the Indians enjoyed," he said.

He said the last two years were very fruitful for Indian hockey and hoped the good run would continue at Sydney.