The fitness camp for the Indian hockey team at the sleepy hill-resort of Barog in Himachal Pradesh was a big success, says trainer Sampath Kumar.
"We could achieve what was needed from the short camp. The players are now quite relaxed and in perfect physical shape to beging their preparatory camp in Lucknow from Saturday," he said, before the team left for Delhi, from where it will proceed to Lucknow on Saturday morning.
The camp, which began at nearby Dagshai on Sunday, was held to pep the fatigued players following the team's successful campaign in Hamburg, Germany, and condition them for the Champions Trophy in Amstelveen, Holland, next month.
"The players are ready for the Lucknow camp and they will be in peak physical condition before the start of the tournament on August 16."
Curtains on the five-day camp means the players, who were relishing the short break in serene surroundings, will have to get back to the grind once again.
"Five days went off like five minutes. It was so nice and refreshing. It has had a tremendous effect on all of us," said Bharat Chetri, one of the three goalkeepers in the camp.
Skipper Dhanraj Pillay also was quite impressed with the place and philosophical when he said: "All good things must come to an end. And this has happened to the camp as well."
He also admitted that he would love to visit the place again and again.
Pillay's co-forwards Baljit Singh Dhillon and Deepak Thakur were also very happy to spend time in Barog.
"We were doing quite a bit of hard work, including step-climbing, running and other workouts. But it was all quite enjoyable in these surroundings," said Dhillon.
Thakur was quick to add, "We were holidaying and thinking of nothing else. It has really charged all of us."
The camp had a very good effect on new players like Prabodh Tirkey, who said the team should attend more and more such camps.
"After a couple of months of hectic activity the team needed a break and all of us were happy to be here. We should have more such camps as it can help the team getting stronger, both physically and mentally."
