The question at the Athens Olympics was always going to be who could beat the
Netherlands both in the men’s and women’s competitions.
The answer was only one side, Australia in the men’s final, and Germany in the women’s. Both their conquerors won gold after losing to the Dutch at the pool stage.
It took a great side to deny the Dutch men their third successive title, and a not so great side in the women’s. Now Australia, three time silver medallists, can, at last, discard the title of ‘Chokers’ that has haunted them for so long.
The Australians produced two amazing displays to defeat Spain 6-3 in their semi-final and the Dutch 2-1 in the final.
What astonished everyone was Australia’s ball speed and control besides their ability to play at great pace apparently indefinitely.
They reminded one of the great Indian sides of the past with their desire to shoot on sight and with power. That it took a golden goal for them to finally triumph over the Dutch said much for Dutch resilience and superb goalkeeping by Guus Vogels.
It was one of the best Olympic finals ever. Australia did most of the attacking and peppered the Dutch goal but one always felt the Dutch were capable of nicking a goal.
Their first goal by Ronald Brouwer was brilliantly executed. Perhaps they would have scored a second if Teun de Nooijer, their outstanding player, had not had to retire from the fray early in the second half.
It was entirely fitting that Jamie Dwyer should score the golden goal. He had set up Australia’s equaliser for Travis Brooks and played outstandingly well throughout the tournament. He must be a very strong candidate for Player of the Year.
The bronze medal match in which Germany beat Spain 4-3 with a golden goal developed into a superb match too. Spain lost because, under pressure, they made too many errors. What was quite clear from the medal matches was that those four teams were far superior in fitness to the Indians. Perhaps that as much as anything else contributed to their failure to make the world’s top six. They lost matches to late goals. It was unfortunate for them that they had to play the two teams that made the final in their first three matches. They did not play so badly in either of those games, losing to Australia only 4-3. No side scored more goals against the Australians.
India reserved their best for their last match, the 7th place decider against South Korea. They took their Asian rivals apart in the first half to lead 4-0. Two well-taken goals by Gagan Ajit took his tally to seven goals, a total exceeded by only four players.
Indian hockey followers will have observed that coach Gerhard Rach chose not to play his two of his three senior players, Dhanraj Pillay and Baljeet Singh, until injury forced a change late in the game for seventh place. He has to look forward for the future of Indian hockey lies in his younger players.
It was unfortunate that Dhanraj’s great career should end with only a brief entry into his last international but one feels he brought on himself. Dhanraj will know he has played a lot better in the past.
Overall India finished seventh which is three places higher than they did in the last major, the 2002 World Cup and this was the toughest Olympics ever. There were definite signs that the new Indian team can climb higher.