Victorious team returns home to a lukewarm welcome

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: A lukewarm welcome awaited the victorious Indian hockey team that won the Azlan Shah Cup at Ipoh as it returned home on Monday night.

If one thought that a cup win after a 13-year gap would lead to a warm, even boisterous, welcome, one was in for disappointment at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Monday as just one sports administrator and an Olympian were on hand to receive the team. Of course, the media was in full strength to make up the numbers though the team’s homecoming seemed to have evoked little interest among the onlookers at the airport.

Mr. A.K. Mattoo, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Treasurer and IOA ad hoc committee member, and Olympian Ajitpal Singh, the chairman of the selection committee, were the ones to take the trouble of greeting a team that claimed the title with a well-deserved victory over Malaysia in the final at Ipoh on Sunday.

There were smiles and hugs all right, but chief coach Harendra Singh was cautious in assessing his team’s performance.

“I don’t think we need to go ga-ga over what we have done. I had said before departing that we stood a very good chance of winning the tournament,” said Harendra. His matter-of-fact assessment was based on the quality of the opposition.

“The win is good. It will mean a lot to the players, some of who are at the best stage of their careers. Winning is always important and it will add to the team’s strength and help us plan better,” noted the coach.

According to Harendra, the team played only “60 per cent” of what he expected.

“The players can do much better. At the end of the day, what matters is the result. We have won but remember that it is just a small step in the long journey. Changes can’t happen overnight and we have made a beginning.”

The aim, observed Harendra, was to figure in the top six of the world. “I have been repeatedly saying that we need to aim and join the league of the top six. So please don’t read much into this win. It is good for the morale of the players but the real challenge will come at the Asia Cup (next month).”

Harendra said that the title was the team’s gift to stalwart defender Dilip Tirkey. “His contribution to Indian hockey is a great source of motivation for the youngsters. He is a role model and the team was motivated enough to do it for him. The players deserved to become the champions. But I want to caution them that we can’t take things easy at all.”

Sandeep delighted

Skipper of the team and man of the tournament Sandeep Singh was delighted by the team’s performance.

“I just played the role assigned to me. We were a united bunch and Dilip (Tirkey) was our motivation. There are a few areas we need to improve upon but then this was a nice learning experience.

“We need to do well consistently and Ipoh could well be the launching pad,” he said.

The team will now assemble in Bhopal on April 20 for a camp before leaving for the Asia Cup to be held at Kuantan in Malaysia from May 9.

Courtesy: The Hindu