Ace defender Dilip Tirkey, who will miss out on the Champions Trophy hockey tournament due to sinusitis, said it is "bad luck" that he will not be part of the prestigious event, in Chennai from December 10.
"I am very disappointed to miss out. It's bad luck as I was very eager to play before the home crowd in this big tournament, which has come to our country after a long gap," Tirkey, who was earlier named the captain, said over phone from Chennai.
Tirkey, who picked a sinus aggravation during his Dutch League assignment, was ruled out of the elite six-nation tournament after much speculation about his participation.
He said he was first diagnosed with typhoid-like symptoms but after medical tests conducted on Monday, the doctors concluded that he was suffering from sinusitis.
Tirkey will fly back to his home city Bhubaneswar on Wednesday as he is feeling weak and has been advised at least four to five days' rest.
"The fever is no more there. But I am feeling very weak and need some rest," he said.
