Gold Coast (Australia): About 200 members of the Indian contingent and officials participating in the 2018 Commonwealth Games beginning next week arrived here on Wednesday.
“The contingent members comprising athletics, boxing, basketball, hockey, lawn bowling and shooting have reported at the Village as they arrived in batches,” said the IOA in a statement.
The teams and individuals were seen acclimatising to the conditions and visited their training facilities.
Chef-de-Mission, Vikram Singh Sisodia along with team mangers Namdev, Ajay Narang and Shiyad set up the IOA office at the Village to help India team members a hassle-free consultation and providing day-to-day facilities.
IOA President Narinder Batra and Secretary General Rajeev Mehta congratulated Sisodia for setting up the office smoothly to take care of the various athletes of Indian teams at the Village.
Former hockey captain Zafar Iqbal sounded an optimistic note that the current Indian hockey men’s team has the capability to overcome the strong Australian challenge in the upcoming Games.
Speaking on the sidelines of an to wish the Indian contingent for the CWG, the hockey great said: “Undoubtedly, Australia is one of the best sides, which plays top level hockey. However, the Indian side has also dished out some great performance in the last few years and have also beaten the Australians on some occasions.”
“I am fully confident that our team will clear the Australian hurdle this time,” he added.
Significantly, India had lost the finals to Australia in the 2010 Delhi CWG and the 2014 Glasgow CWG and had to settle for the silver.
The 62-year-old said that after being thrashed in the 2010 CWG, the Indian side improved their show in Glasgow, however losing the summit clash.
“There will be a tough fight in the Commonwealth Games as it features hockey heavyweights like Australia, New Zealand, England, South Africa and Pakistan,” Zafar said.
“Our teams are well prepared for the Gold Coast Games. Both the men and women teams have played a number of matches in the recent past and have gained plenty of experience,” he added.
