Another test awaits Nobbs in London

S. Thyagarajan

Left with limited options, the hockey selection committee has refrained from tinkering with the Indian team for the four-nation hockey tournament in London.

From the standpoint of the Olympic Games, the test event from May 2 to 6 on the azure synthetic surface at the Olympic venue constitutes a formidable challenge.

For Michael Nobbs, who distinguished himself recently by piloting India back to the Olympic Games from the qualifier, the London event is an acid test.

The value of India’s preparations for the Olympics will be gauged from the outcome in London, where the team is set to lock horns with Australia, Germany and Great Britain.

It may seem churlish to debate over victory chances. As Michael Nobbs observed that in a modern hockey combat between skill, which India has in abundance, and strength that Australia, Britain and Germany symbolise, it is the latter element that eventually prevails.

India is in the scheme of things of the London organisers purely for spectator interest.

The presence of an Indian hockey team is bound to turn the turnstiles. Indian and Pakistani teams abroad enjoy huge spectator patronage. And this reality cannot be brushed aside.

Confidence is not in short supply for the current Indian players. The consistency and calibre displayed at the Olympic Qualifiers (OQ) were an eye-opener for many, a mirror to the inputs from the Aussie coach.

The fizz in the attack was noticeable although concern over the frailties in the defence continues.

The return of the indefatigable wing-half Gurbaj Singh should somewhat cover up the deficiencies noticed in the area of defence.

Shifting Ignace Tirkey as the third defender is born out of Nobbs’ ingenuity.

The move paid some dividends during the Qualifier. This strategy now has cost the berth for Rupinder giving way to the re-entry of Gurbaj. However, it is a minor reshuffle packing the defence layer with experienced players.

Gurbaj Singh and Sardar Singh supported by Ignace Tirkey from behind can form a powerful phalanx.

The zestful Kothajit Singh and the talented Birendra Lakra are expected to enhance the intensity of the defence mechanism.

The gangling S.V. Sunil projects the flavour flourish of the frontline. Some of the goals he netted during the OQ were eye-catching both for conception and execution. Tushar and Shivendra add that touch of experience and expertise.

Trump card

Sandeep Singh, however, is the trump card. The team relies heavily on his drag flicks. But the question is how many tries Sandeep will get and how much can he convert against the strong goal-keepers of the rival team.

Everyone of them is world class, and more than a match for India’s Chetri and Sreejesh.

There is no denying that Michael Nobbs and assistant coach, Mohammad Riaz, should frame more options to shore up the rate of field goals.

And scoring them will not be easy as it turned out to be in the OQ.

The competition in London is bound to be at a different level and altogether in a new dimension.

Even a couple of drawn games must be viewed as a good effort by the Indian team.