Redemption time for the Indian hockey team

Indian hockey has not had a major success since the gold at the 1998 Asian Games. New Delhi, perhaps, is the best chance to end its 12-year medal drought in a multi-discipline event. Jose Brasa’s boys, who finished poorly at the World Championship in New Delhi earlier this year, will have one final chance to redeem themselves.

However, it will be easier said than done. With world champions Australia, European champions England and arch-rivals Pakistan taking part, India will have to fight their demons to finish on the podium.

How far India progress will depend a lot on their attacking flair. All the world’s top teams — Australia, Germany, Netherlands, England and Spain — have good defence. That goes without saying but it’s the attacking prowess of these teams that makes the difference.

The Australians are known for their flick of the wrist and death dives to make that final touch in face of the goal. The English team that won the European title last year have learnt how to deal with these moves and have looked more threatening from penalty corners, which has proven to be the difference at times.

But as one saw in the World Cup, India have consistently failed to match such skills near the circle. “We have been working on that during our camps. To have that kind of flair and rhythm one needs to be supremely fit, which was lacking in the past. This team, though, has it in them,” says coach Harendra Singh.

India will be trying out new combinations at the CWG, says Harendra. One of the changes in the trend is the inclusion of only one goalkeeper in the 16-member squad. “Having two goalkeepers in the squad doesn’t make sense so this gives us an extra option in the midfield,” he explains.

Harendra promises a gold medal at the CWG. But he knows, to achieve that he, along with Brasa, will have to outwit the Aussies and be more expressive inside the circle. “Our difficulty was getting inside the circle. We have found it difficult to beat the defensive ploys of the opposition. We have depended on penalty corner situations at times. However, we have worked on finding out new ways to put pressure on the teams in the attacking zone and that will be seen this time,” explains Harendra.

While gold medal may be the target, anything more than a bronze will surely be an upset. Ric Charlesworth’s outstanding Kookaburras are the undisputed World No.1 side, having already claimed the World Cup and Champions Trophy this year. For Australia, the toughest challenge will come from an England side that has gone from strength to strength over the past few years. England, the only team to beat the Kookaburras this year in a pool match at the World Cup, loom as their biggest threat for gold in Delhi. Charlesworth is wary of the English, despite his side’s comfortable 4-0 win over them in the Champions Trophy final and he warns that India, Pakistan and New Zealand can also pose problems.

India is placed along side Australia, 2006 edition bronze medallists Malaysia, Pakistan and Scotland in Group A, while England, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and Trinidad and Tobago make up Group B.

A good outing at the CWG will also be a shot in the arm for the players ahead of the Asian Games, in Guangzhou, China, that begins on November 12, says skipper Rajpal Singh. “Our idea is to implement the new ideas and tactics in a way that it helps us further in the Asian Games. But right now, we are solely focussed on winning the gold in front of the home crowd,” he says.

Women target last four appearance
The women’s team, meanwhile, buoyed by their best finish at last month’s World Cup in 32 years, is looking at the upcoming Commonwealth Games with renewed optimism. The women’s game has been in the news for the wrong reasons and several new faces were inducted into the coaching staff virtually in the eleventh hour. In the circumstances, the ninth-place finish in Rosario wasn’t such a bad effort.

On their return from Rosario, the players have jumped straight into a coaching camp at Patiala and despite India’s commendable record in the event, coach Sandeep Somesh is not taking things for granted. India won the gold medal in 2002 and a silver in Melbourne four years later. “Our aim is to reach the semifinals first, and take it from there,” he says.

World Cup bronze medallists England, Australia and New Zealand, are the three teams which finished ahead of India in Rosario. “It won’t be easy. There are also unknown forces such as Trinidad and Tobago and Scotland in our pool. We need to keep our focus and give our best.”