Wednesday, September 13 2006 11:13 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Monchengladbach: A pathetic performance in the Hockey World Cup notwithstanding, Indian Hockey Federation has ruled out any major changes in the team for the Asian Games to be held later this year in Doha.



IHF Secretary General K Jothikumaran tells sources there is no need to press the panic button for the World Cup debacle as the team has the potential to put the disappointment behind and come out with flying colours.



"We might make only a couple of changes if necessary, but certainly not wholesale replacements. I feel, this team is still good and had the potential to reach the semi-finals, but a few things went wrong for us in the World Cup," Jothikumaran says last night after India crashes to their third defeat in four matches, losing 2-1 to Korea.



He says he had a lengthy telephonic conversation with IHF president KPS Gill in New Delhi and briefed him of the situation.



"We had a long discussion and I brought him up to date on the Indian team here. We decided to meet after the World Cup and review the situation," he says.



Referring to India's poor performance here, Jothikumaran says, "It was most unexpected especially after our strong showing in the Azlan Shah Cup tournament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (in June 2006) where we finished third."