K. ARUMUGAM

I think it is fairly even game. We took our chances. These games are always close, and could take our chances. This was basically the difference between two sides today

Is the early goal upset your rivals. His replied: Possibly. The early goal actually lifted our confidence.

Commenting on the success for the day, he gave credit to the team who could maintain the structure all through.

” They have struck to the plan, played a disciplined hockey and importantly kept the structure all along. These are what I asked them to do, they did them exactly.

Accepting that their penalty corner defence was good, he said: “Yes we worked on that definitely. Over all am happy the way the entire defence played”.

As things turn out, the victory today will put them against somewhat struggling China in the semifinal. Jude prodded on the subject thus: “It really doesn’t matter. We actually look forward to Malaysia game tomorrow. They are also a good side. winning them is the immediate priority. We should beat any team if the Cup is at the stake”.

On the significance of beating a strong side like India which won many laurels after their Tokyo success, he said: ‘For all our target and journey, this win is a big step.”