Big Setback! SV Sunil May Miss India’s Hockey Quarterfinal

Was stretchered off the field during the final Group B fixture against Canada.

SV Sunil being stretchered off after sustaining an injury during the team’s final Group B fixture against Canada. (Photo: Reuters)

Uncertainty hovered over Indian team’s halfback SV Sunil’s participation in the quarterfinals after he sustained an injury during its last men’s hockey Pool B game against Canada at the Rio Olympics.

India were dealt a big blow when Sunil was stretchered off the pitch after he suffered an injury by crashing against the sign boards while pressing for an attack during the match against Canada.

Roelant Oltmans, who is the team’s high performance director and head coach, could not give a definitive answer when asked about the extent of Sunil’s injury.

“I don’t know. It’s too early to say. He needs to have a scan. He fell into the board and injured his writs,” Dutchman Oltmans said.

Skipper PR Sreejesh though sounded optimistic.

“What I saw it seemed okay to me and he can play in the next match,” Sreejesh, who also mans India’s goal, said.

India squandered a one-goal advantage as they allowed Canada to stage a fightback with a late strike and earn a 2-2 draw.