The Tribune: Boys seek to stamp Asian supremacy

Indervir Grewal

With six days to go for the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, The Tribune analyses the hockey teams’ chances

The Indian men’s team is through with the first half of a long and busy year, and having seen surprising highs and lows, it is anybody’s guess what the team’s fate would be in the coming months.

However, after getting through the severe criticism they faced for the disappointing show at the Commonwealth Games and bouncing back to win the silver medal at the Champions Trophy, India should be mentally ready for what is to follow in this important year.

India’s biggest tests — the Asian Games, also a qualifying tournament for the 2020 Olympics, and the World Cup at home — are yet to come. Expectations are higher than ever — justifiably so, as India’s rank is the highest it has been in a long time — bringing along high pressure. After the unpredictable slide and then rise of the team in the last few months, all eyes will be on India’s campaign at the Asian Games.

A gold medal in Jakarta will ensure direct entry into the Tokyo Olympics. It will also set the tone for the World Cup in Bhubaneswar in December. The defending champions also have a chance to create history — win back-to-back titles for the first time and join Pakistan and Korea. For eight team members, it is an opportunity to become the only players from the country to win two Asian Games gold medals.

Outright favourites?

Winning the title should be straightforward, at least on paper. India, at No. 5, are the highest ranked side in the tournament. The next best-ranked team is Malaysia (No. 12), followed by Pakistan (13) and Korea (14). India have not lost to an Asian rival since June last year, when they were defeated 3-2 by Malaysia in the World League Semifinals. They have defeated Malaysia on all occasions since, and were held 1-1 once each by Korea and Pakistan.

Looking at their overall form as well, India have lost just twice in their last nine matches. Their confidence should be sky high after the silver medal in the Champions Trophy, which had the world’s top four teams — Australia, Argentina, Belgium and the Netherlands — competing for the title.

But India struggle to handle the added pressure of the favourites tag, especially due the high expectations of the federation and the fans, who want only gold. The Gold Coast CWG is a case in point. India’s fourth-place finish, behind world No. 1 Australia, New Zealand and England, was lambasted, more so because they had won silver in the last two editions, and this year, they were expected to go a step further. But what was overlooked was that despite being lower-ranked than India, England and New Zealand are among the top 10 teams in the world and very competitive.
The reaction to the CWG result would be in the players’ minds and they know that failing to defend their title in Jakarta would invite even harsher criticism. However, the way they played in the Champions Trophy showed their potential, and if they match it in the Asiad, they will blow away the competition.

Men in Pool A

India (World No. 5), Korea (14), Japan (16), Sri Lanka, Hong Kong and Indonesia; (Pool B): Malaysia (12), Pakistan (13), Bangladesh, Oman, Thailand, Kazakhstan

Squad: PR Sreejesh (Captain, GK), Krishan B Pathak (GK), Harmanpreet Singh, Varun Kumar, Surender Kumar, Amit Rohidas, Rupinder Pal Singh, Birendra Lakra, Sardar Singh, Manpreet Singh, Chinglensana Singh (Vice-Captain), Vivek Sagar Prasad, Simranjeet Singh, SV Sunil, Mandeep Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Lalit Upadhyay

Coach: Harendra Singh

Most titles: Pakistan 8

India’s titles: 3

India in 2014: Gold