Raghunath: Opener win will be a good gift for our coach

India’s first match in the forthcoming 24th Sultan Azlan Shah cup, which is against Asian powerhouse South Korea, will be the first international match for the team in the calendar year and expert drag flicker V.R. Raghunath wants the team to start it on a winning note.

“Tomorrow’s match against Korea will be our first international match in 2015. So, we want to start it on a winning note. Also, it will be new coach’s first game with us, so a win would make a good gift for him,” Raghunath said on the sidelines of the practice session at the Sultan Azlan Shah stadium.

Highlighting that the team does have an upper edge psychologically after winning their last match against the Asian giants, he however, said that the opponent cannot be taken lightly.

“We won the last game against Korea in Incheon Asian Games semi-final. But it no way means they are easy opponents. Korea will come prepared and so have we well prepared our strategies too.”

On Saturday, the drag-flick duo of V.R Raghunath and Rupinderpal Singh practiced penalty corner for long, trying different angles and variations.

“Korea have a good goalkeeper. Hence, any penalty corner earned should not go waste.”

Tazeen Qureshy reports from Ipoh