Honour at stake for India
YB Sarangi
The scenes could be spectacularly diverse for sure at the end of the Olympic qualifier at the National Stadium here.
Lowered heads, drooping shoulders and sticks dragged, if India loses. Or untiring smiles, a huddle marking the joy of a victory and rapturous celebrations by a packed house if the host excels. Only the winner of the event will take the ‘Road to London.’
Over the next nine days, through six matches, the Indian hockey players will face one of the toughest tests in their quest for a ticket to the London Olympics.
Emotional issue
For the ‘spiritual home’ of the sport, it is more than just another participation in an event. It is an emotional issue, a matter of regaining the country’s pride and honour. Hockey is dear to every sports-loving Indian.
The horror of Chile, when India failed to qualify for the Olympics for the first time ever, is a thing of the past. No player wants to remember that shattering incident. Six players of the current team, who were part of the humiliation in Santiago four years ago, want to make amends. “No point pondering about it anymore. We have to look ahead and see how we can again make it to the Olympics,” said India’s captain Bharat Chetri.
Influence of Nobbs
The team has undergone many a change in the last four years and experienced several ups and downs. However, the major transformation under the leadership of present coach Michael Nobbs has been the re-infusion of self-belief in the players about their abilities and their style of play.
While professing an attacking game, Nobbs made the players realise the urgent need to raise their fitness level. The result was positive and is likely to prove more beneficial in the future. Adding to the team’s campaign is the fact that the team boasts of three quality drag-flick exponents — Sandeep Singh, Rupinder Pal Singh and V.R. Raghunath. Each is keen to make an impact.
Thirty-year-old Ignace Tirkey, who was not sure of his future a few months back, bubbled with enthusiasm about his dual role as defender and midfielder in the qualifier.
“I have no problems. When you are fit, you can do anything,” said Ignace.
He, along with striker Shivendra Singh, remains a significant factor in the team’s campaign. Nobbs reciprocates by showing faith in the players. “I trust all the players. All of them are important for me.”
The coach also firmly believes in his methods. That has prompted him not to schedule a single practice match against any of the participating teams, not even the 41st-ranked Singapore, packed with inexperienced university students, which the host (World No. 10) meets in its opening match on Saturday.
Even though Chetri rated the outings against minnows like Singapore or Italy as ‘warm-up games,’ Nobbs was not ready to take any side for granted. “There are no easy games. We will control what we can,” said the coach.
Singapore, which replaced the USA at the last minute and had just two weeks to prepare for the tournament, looked forward to make the most of this learning trip.
“We have nothing to lose and everything to gain. In Singapore, we do not get any chance to play international matches. This kind of tournament is good for the players,” said Solomon Casoojee, the South African coach of the Singapore team.
After its engagement against Singapore, India will meet Italy (world-ranked 28th), France (18th), Canada (14th) and Poland (19th) in its subsequent league matches.
The classification matches, including the final, will be played on February 26.
Saturday’s schedule: Men: Canada vs Italy (2 p.m.); France vs Poland (4 p.m.); India vs Singapore (8 p.m.).
Women: South Africa vs Poland (10 a.m.); Italy vs Canada (12 p.m.); India vs Ukraine (6 p.m.).