Indian hockey players hone their English language and read books
Concerned about their families, players also keep in touch with them through video calls
New Delhi: Locked inside the SAI centre due to the COVID-19 forced restrictions, Indian Hockey players are utilising their free time to hone their English language skills, reading books and watching their favourite movies.
Indian men and women hockey teams are practicing at SAI centre, Bengaluru, where no unauthorised person can enter the campus.
Despite the uncertainty over Tokyo Olympic Indian hockey teams are following their rigorous training schedules.
Senior member of men's team, goalkeeper PR Sreejesh is reading books which were in his wish list for a while.
"Our routine is as usual but we get free time on Sundays and Wednesday evening. We work on fitness and recovery. I read Da Vinci Code, autobiography of Helen Keller. I have some more books in my wishlist," Sreejesh told PTI Bhasha.
In the crisis time, the players are also concerned about their families and are in touch with them through video calls. "My father is above 60 and kids are below seven. I have strictly instructed them not to move out of the house," said the veteran from Kerala.
For star forward Mandeep Singh, it is the time to improve English and he is taking it very seriously along with others.
"Wife of Chris Ciriello (team's analytical coach) takes English classes once in a week. We are doing assignments which include reading good English books. I have started reading one book on Olympics," said the player from Jalandhar who recently won the HI best forward award.