We have worked hard in the past nine months and are really prepared for the Olympic qualifiers in Chile.
MUMBAI: We have worked hard in the past nine months and are really prepared for the Olympic qualifiers in Chile. I am confident that our boys would perform to their potential and not let us down.
It is an important tournament for us and we just cannot afford to fail. We have prepared well and it is now imperative to implement the plans well.
India have played the qualifying rounds earlier, but never missed a single Olympics till now. I do not see anything wrong in having to go through the qualifying process. After all, even Holland and Spain, had to qualify for the 1996 Olympics. The Dutch went on to win the gold medal.
This year, World champions Germany will be playing the qualifying tournament in Japan. Modern hockey is all about power and tactics. Most of the teams rely on their penalty corner attack drills and a cautious defence. So all the six teams vying for the one and only slot for the Beijing Olympics would be well prepared in their own way.
I became an Olympian without playing the qualifying rounds. All the players in the present team are geared up to face the challenge in Chile to get the “Olympian” tag.
I assure you that this bunch of boys would live up to the expectations. We will be opening our campaign on March 1 against Russia and ensure that we start on a winning note.
Three points from the opener will be the perfect start for a tourney.
I have been lucky to have an excellent support staff. My long-time friend and former team-mate MM Somaya will be with us in Chile. Two heads are better than one. We also have Mohinder Pal Singh and Ramesh Parameswaran in our support staff and they have put in long hours.
It is indeed a great honour to be a double Olympian — both as a player and Coach of the India Hockey team. I was privileged to be part of the team at the Los Angles Olympics in 1984 as a player under late Shri Balkishen Singh.
To emulate my late coach, I have to cross the last hurdle the Olympic qualifier at Santiago to book a berth for the Beijing Olympics.
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