Times of India: Times of India: Sardar & Co look to up their game

By Sunil Subbaiah

BENGALURU: As the Indian hockey team prepares for the final stretch of the road to Rio Olympics, skipper Sardar Singh said the team will now aim to chisel the rough edges of its game.

“Concentration through the duration of the game has to improve,” said Sardar. “We have to stick to the coach’s strategy. The decision-making (ability) of a player too has to be better. If you are playing The Netherlands, Germany or Australia you have to improve small things to be at your best,” the midfielder added.

Talking about the improvement seen in the team, Sardar pointed out that the change in coaching and training methods has worked well. “Frequent team meetings has helped us realize our strengths and weaknesses; the pattern in which our training sessions are held has also changed. Every player is now giving 100 per cent in training,” he added.
With an eye on consistency, India will play in excess of 20 international matches in the run up to the Olympics. Among them, the major outings include the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup (April), Champions Trophy (June) and the European Tour (July). “We are aiming for consistency. We still have four to five months of time (to improve) and 20-25 games to go and the players have to know their roles now. From here on, we have to play like every match is the final.” he said.

Before the third-place finish at HWL last year, India had last won a FIH-level medal at the 1982 Champions Trophy in Amstelveen, Netherlands and Sardar believes the achievement will serve as a confidence booster. “The bronze medal at the HWL Final has boosted the confidence. Right now, we are close (in quality) to the best seven teams in the world and the rest depends on match-day performance,” he said.