“We have worked very hard in the last one year or so, and we will deliver, you media guys will surely applaud us”, this is what coach Harendera Singh said today interactig with media in Delhi. He was speaking about the Indian team’s prospects in the World Cup.
There has been lot of heartburn in Delhi media circle as they were denied access to players and stadium. Hockey India today responded by calling a ‘Media interaction’ sessions in which Harendera and HI Advisor Anupam Ghulati were there for discussion.
After all, media has something official to write about the Indian team’s preparations for the world cup.
Media was not even informed of a practice match yesterday.
Ghulati said it was not Hockey India’s call to keep the media away from the camp. But who is responsible for it? Ghulati threw it on SAI, government and security agencies.
The question remained unanswred was is media a danger to players or the stadium?
Harendra favoured media to be present during practice and promised he would do whatever he can, to resolve the issue.
The next big issue, as expected, was regarding captaincy. Harendra denied of any rift with in the team and said that all is well. But a few minutes later, he said something different from the earlier position.
“I have talked to both the players (Rajpal Singh and Prabhjot Singh, of course) and asked them to play for the country and leave this matter. Sachin Tendulkar is the biggest star in the cricket and if he is playing under M.S. Dohni, then hockey players should also not have any problem. Even Dhanraj Pilley played four Olympics and never captained India in any, but he still remained a legend” said Harendra.
He was factually right, though contexts differ vastly.
Harendra stood by his words that India would make it to the last four stage in the World Cup, and said “I had given this thing in written to SAI last year and I am sure this team has all the potential to do it. We are working very hard on our weak areas mainly ball rotation. This is for the first time that we have three drag-flickers in the side” he added.
India is opening its World Cup campaign against Pakistan on the inaugural day and the same team defeated India at the Champions Challenge. But Harendra did not seem undly worried at all. “India-Pakistan match always has high emotions. Their Sohail Abbas is no doubt a great player, but his conversion rate is not that great against us and our first-rusher and goal-keeper will tackle him” he clarified.
India is playing Pakistan, Australia, Spain, England and South Africa in the league stage of the mega event. Though coach is sure of putting up a good show, still he didn’t count any of them weak.
“The strongest opponent, according to me, is the one you count the weakest in the group. India’s fate in the world cup will be decided after the first three games. This 2010 year is make or break year for us and the kind of preparations we are doing, I am sure you media guys will surely applaud us later on” the confident Harendra concluded.