Indian Express: Back in the game

Raipur win confirms that India is no longer a team of breathtaking dribblers, those tragic misfits of modern hockey.

On Sunday night in Raipur, India ended its 33-year medal drought at a major international hockey tournament. In a game with a Hollywood storyline — seven goals in the last 13 minutes, followed by a thrilling tie-breaker — India beat Holland to clinch the bronze medal at the Hockey World League finals. The last time India finished on the podium in an international tournament, continental competitions and the Commonwealth Games not included, was in 1982, when it beat Pakistan 4-3 to win the bronze medal in the Champions Trophy.

India’s win over European champions Holland, ranked second in the world, along with credible performances against Britain, Germany and even Belgium despite the defeat, showed the potential of this team. They were quick, clever and, refreshingly, they are outwitting the Europeans at their own game. India is no longer a team of breathtaking dribblers, those tragic misfits of modern hockey. Eight months before the Rio Olympics, these are healthy signs. It isn’t often that India wins a medal at a major tournament in successive years. But to follow up the Asian Games gold with a bronze medal at a tournament that has the world’s giants highlights the steady progress the team has made over the last 18 months. During this period, India has jumped to world number six in the rankings from languishing outside the top 10. The performance in Raipur might propel the team to the top five of the world for the first time in more than a decade.

But it’s important to temper expectations for the Rio Olympics next year. Though memorable, India’s performance in this tournament also left a lot to be desired. The team struggled to break down organised defences and showed alarming inconsistency over the last 10 days. The players, too, acknowledge that the next eight months will be crucial. Raipur can be a good launchpad for Rio, if India learns from its mistakes.