India start in style

Uthra G Chaturvedi

When stand-in captain Sardar Singh tapped in India’s third goal in the 28th minute, it was the first against his name in almost four years. But more than anything else, it only proved why the hardworking 25-year-old remains the heart of this Indian hockey team that seeks a ticket for the London Olympics.

On Monday, India beat South Africa 4-0 in the first of their five-match series and though the rustiness was evident in both teams, the Indians seem to be finally coming to terms with the all-out attacking game that coach Michael Nobbs has been advocating since taking charge last year. Sardar, making himself available near the left post to finish the move that SV Sunil started on the right flank, was only an affirmation of the same philosophy.

Nobbs said after the match that the scoreline does not indicate the full story, and he was right. The number of clear chances that India squandered outnumbered the ones that counted two to one. With two debutants earning their India caps in the match — full-back Harbir Singh and striker SK Uthappa — the Indians stepped on the gas straight away and the first chance came in the 4th minute when Chinglensana, playing only his second international tournament, shot out from close range.

Thereafter, it was all about India, who would have been completely outplayed had the field of play been all about physical strength. That Nobbs and trainer David John have been insisting on the Indians having to beef up is old news; but their first international competition at home since Nobbs took over only highlighted how much is yet to be done on that front. On the other hand, the fitness of the team has definitely gone up, not withstanding the absence of several key members from this series due to injuries, and since skills were an equally important part of the game, the Indians came out tops.

Shivendra Singh seems to have recovered his hunger for goals, He opened the scoring in the 15th minute, finding himself in front of an open goal. Nine minutes later, Chinglensana combined with Uthappa before passing to Birendra Lakra on the right, who made no mistake in calmly slotting the ball in. Sardar then made it 3-0 at the break, with a little help from Shivendra. In between, he was the omnipresent figure all across the field, creating moves and finding openings that appeared to be present only for him.

On their part, the South Africans did manage to get almost everything right on counterattacks, except scoring. Every time Julian Hykes or Lloyd Norris-Jones entered the Indian circle, they appeared dangerous, only to shoot wide or be thwarted by an impressive PR Sreejesh under the bar. “We took a lot of shots from the wrong angles today and failed to covert,” coach Gregg Clark admitted after the match.

Towards the end of the match, Uthappa scored his first international goal. Getting the ball from VS Vinaya — himself making a return to the national team after more than two years — he dodged past a couple of defenders to enter the striking circle to power a shot through a host of defenders.

However, concerns remain. Despite the goals scored and chances created upfront, India failed to convert any of their penalty corners and that, Nobbs admitted, needed working. However, given the opposition India may face in the Olympic qualifiers in exactly a month, four more games at this level would only be a good thing.

Women labour to second win

The Indian women’s team, meanwhile, continued its profligate ways, wasting seven penalty corners against a resurgent Azerbaijan in their second game before managing a 2-1 victory. Ritu Rani opened the scoring in the 18 th minute before Gyeonga Kim leveled five minutes later. Saba Anjum scored the winner post break but coach CR Kumar remains concerned. “Azerbaijan play fast and an European style of hockey, and this series will give us good practice for the qualifiers,” Kumar said.