Exciting Sunday fare on the cards, as semis on line today
As only expected the World Series Hockey has produced great hockey, and the non-stop fare has been a heartwarming ticker for those fans who long for quality hockey on prime time.
Each day Live action on twice, either on television screen or on web streaming, is great.
That no team overwhelmingly grabbed all the points – maximum possible 52 – and the top two teams could manage only half of that proved the how the competition have been close, and truly speaking up close.
The two teams who made it to the semis had in fact just two points more than two teams (Wizards and Cheetahs) who lost out, is another pointer.
One had to even wait for the last match to find out the last semifinalist. In the 56th match, Mumbai Marines spoilt the party of Chennai Cheetah and thus paved way for Pune to grab the fourth semis slot.
Lions made it to the grade with only a match to spare.
These stand for the intensity of matches if at all one needs any proof.
So, now the knock out stage. Both semifinals will be played out in the night, first at Bangalore and then in Mumbai.
Rajinder Singh, after afford to lose the last match in Delhi, categorically stated he would prefer to play his semifinal in Mumbai than in Bangalore.
“Lions have been preparing on their home ground for almost four days, now if we have to play them in the semis, will go and hardly have a day’s practice, and then if we win, which am sure, we have to again travel to Mumbai for the final. Is it not better we play our semis in Mumbai so that we can stay back for the final as well?”
This did not happen. However, as the semis in Bangalore has been postponed by a day, perhaps the Shers fought for it, the compact and impact making team has got some reprieve it can relax and recoup, but today it has to overcome the home crowd.
Lions have of late sorted out their lacunae in the defence, which is now solid. Fortunately for the Lions, even if they concede penalty corners, there is no Len in the Sher’s rank, though wily coach Rajinder Singh has the knack of introducing surprise, new talents for the high end job. Ever since the Lions have also taken a bold decision to rest Dhanraj Pillay, who seemed not even a pale shadow of what he used to be, Ravi Pal took over the mantle and he is what is expected of him.
I witnessed Ravi Pal striking beautiful goals against Australia in the Lanco Hockey 9s, and he continues the same form here too. With Arjun and Ravi Pal changing their strategy to go in for penalty corners, and seek Len to come to their rescue, there is a task on hand for Shers.
On the other hand, Mario Almada in the Pune Strykers’s rank is Ravi Pal in every respect, though Ravi packs more energy in his legs while the Argentinean make up this with huge commonsense and purposeful work inside the circle.
Comets is a solid side, and that is in every respect. Very young side, and is peaking in right measure, befitting the long league.
Gurjinder Singh in penalty corners, hitherto sedate Rehan Butt in the circle, ever reliable Bharat Chhikara in form, Comets looks a better side against the unpredictability of Pune Strykers.
In all, let us wait for an exciting day of hockey