Azlan Shah win gives a new high to Indian hockey

Digvijay Singh Deo / CNN-IBN

CHALLENGES REMAIN: Coach Harendra Singh admits a lot more hard work needs to be put in.

New Delhi: After a drought of five years, the Indian hockey team finally won a hockey tournament abroad when they defeated Malaysia in Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey tournament on Sunday.

“When we won after the final hooter everybody was jumping on the field. The gold medal around the neck is just amazing,” Indian team member Adrian D’Souza said.

Indian hockey has been on an emotional roller coaster for so many years now and the failure to qualify for 2008 Beijing Olympics will remain a blot on the country’s rich hockey heritage. But now the belief is slowly coming back.

“The happiness after winning is very satisfying. It also boosts the team and makes it more confident. We feel the same now,” defender Dilip Tirkey said.

The competition at the Azlan Shah may not have been top class but a gold medal around the neck is always a huge motivation.

“I don’t know about others but he has helped me a lot. When i see my boys holding the gold medal, I feel satisfied and morally boosted. It is one of the best things in their career,” coach Harendra Singh said.

But the management isn’t over the moon and they say a lot more hard work needs to be put in.

“There are lot of weaknesses. i cannot deny that but yes we have to work. That is a long process. The weaknesses have to be sorted out in the camps,” pointed out Harendra.

Indian hockey team hasn’t won too many tournaments in the last few years and that is the reason they are going to savour the Azlan Shah win. It is just one step and now India will have to consistently beat teams like Australia, Germany, the Netherlands to claim their lost position in hockey world.