The captain of the Indian men's hockey team PR Sreejesh on Wednesday talked up his team's match against Pakistan at next month's Asian Champions Trophy, stating that they did not want to "disappoint our soldiers by losing", according to PTI.
“India-Pakistan match brings a lot of excitement to the table. We want to give [our] 100%," said Sreejesh. " We don’t want to disappoint our soldiers by losing, especially when they sacrifice their lives in the exchange of fire at the borders."
Sreejesh also went on to add that though he felt Pakistan were playing "lower-grade hockey", their strong mental attitude meant that they were capable of beating stronger teams.
The Indian captain's comments might have come in the wake of the Uri attacks earlier in the month, which has led to a deterioration of the relations between the two countries.
Six teams will participate in the Asian Champions Trophy, which begins on October 20 in Kuantan in Malaysia. India begin their campaign against Japan on the first day and will play Pakistan on October 23. The other teams participating in the tournament are China, South Korea and Malaysia.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!