New Delhi: Team India hockey players, who finished runners-up in the just-concluded Asia Cup tournament in Ipoh, Malaysia, returned home on Monday night.
A handful of supporters were present at the Indira Gandhi International Airport to receive the 18 Indian players and the support staff, including acting head coach Roelant Oltmans.
Team India captain Sardar Singh blamed poor umpiring for India's loss in the final to South Korea.
Sardar Singh said: "We performed well..there was huge pressure on us to win & qualify for World Cup.. I think we worked hard in our camp before the Asia Cup & that paid off."
"Our youngsters did a really good job. In the final we bounced back and as our coach taught us not to think individual, and just play like a team, we did same but due to bad umpiring we couldn't win the final."
"Our defence was really strong. Sreejesh did exceptionally well. V Raghunath, Rupinder and Mandeep scored goals whenever they got chances", said Sardar Singh.
On India's chances for the World Cup, he said: "Virtually we are through for the World Cup as Fiji is low ranked and there are very good chances of NZ & Australia to win in November. but yes we have to wait."
