Tit bits here and there Part III
The Chinese team here had a practice session before India and Pakistan encounter. After practice, almost all team members removed their jerseys; half of the team went further. They removed the shots and ran with just nickers. Hope it’s not shocking for the conservative Malaysians!!!!!!
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The Chinese team here are with a translator. Media can now discuss with the Chinese team and take interview. I used the opportunity which comes rarely, and interviewed bald headed Yi Nu Na, who creates terror upfront. His answers were always one liners. He was laughing and smiling all along the course of interview. He is a student, and likes table tennis. On India he just knows it won gold in the past. How many I asked? He said, “Four”. When I said this to a fellow journalist, the reply was, “with lot of difficulty we won eight, this Chinese fellow had swallowed half of it”.
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An official from Oman is here. He is originally from Baluchistan part of Pakistan. Many generations before his ancestors settled in Oman. Oman did not come to Asia Cup here, because they didn’t have money to come. The Sports ministry is loathe to spend on hockey. Oman was second in the AHF tournament, and thus qualified to be here. There is another interesting development in Oman. They had an Australian coach Sinclair, who was with the junior team when Junior Asia Cup took place in Hyderabad. He was now not with the Oman team. Reason: bad mouth. The Australian is back home after the AHF tournament.
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The stadium stands on three sides were almost empty for India Pakistan match. I don’t think it is a new development. In 2008 Azlan Shah, when these two teams met on a working day in the noon, I saw empty stands in Ipoh. It is high time these two formers giants pull up their socks, and start winning internationally. Lest their famed rivalry will be a thing of past. Another thing I noticed was more support for Pakistan than for India from the stands. Normally, India will also have equal support as this country has sizeable Indian population. Do ethic Indians in Malaysia not interested in hockey any more?
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Normally managers of teams are confined to bench or meetings. Indian manager Dhanraj Pillay seems not content with these perfunctory jobs alone. During practice sessions, and pre-match warm ups, he works hard with stick, gives practice to team members. Its nice to see his patented half-stick jabs and flicks. Before India Pak match he was giving these passes to Dilip Tirkey. Nice to see two Indian legends on the field with stick and ball after a long time. Dhanraj is slim, fit, as cheerful as ever.
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Shahid Ali Khan, only soul here to have won three Asia Cup gold medals, is a happy coach. Sunday was his first match against India as chief coach. And his team won, the victory coming after three years gap. Pakistan defeated India in 2006 CWG, after that in all the four matches India had the upper hand. Good start for Shahid. Malaysia is no stranger for him, as he was goalkeeper coach with Malaysian team in the last two years.
He only says, it is an equal match, we are luck to win”. He is good at media articulation, and does not go against umpires or and is cautious in his replies especially the ones related the recalled stars.
To be continued………