The Hindu: Right blend of balance and experience

Right blend of balance and experience

S. Thyagarajan

The strength of the squad lies in the mid-field

India last won the trophy in 1995

CHENNAI: When scanned against the recent successes, any attempt at a major ruffle in the team for the Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament faced the risk of being viewed as imprudent. A seasoned and well-balanced 18-member outfit, under the leadership of the gangling Sandeep Singh, is framed for the challenge.

Having said this, it must be acknowledged that the efficacy of the victories accomplished, both at home and abroad in the last few months, must reflect in the showing at Ipoh from April 5.

Conceivably, the composition of teams in the fray for this year’s tournament is weak. No European outfit is in contention, nor is there the presence of the usually formidable Australia. A trophy triumph alone will come as a bold relief, and mirror a modicum of hope before next year’s Commonwealth and World Cup campaigns.
Significant wins

While it is difficult to share the optimism of the chief coach, Harendra Singh, to the effect that India will be among the top six by next year, the fact that the team claimed some significant victories cannot be cast aside.

The faith reposed in experience and balance in all segments is heartening, notwithstanding the persistent frailties in the deep defence at crucial moments and the percentage of conversion in penalty corners.

Goal-keepers Baljit Singh and Adrian D’Souza have acquired a great deal of experience now. The former in particular has been on the improving mode in every competition. The deep defence, manned by the mature Dilip Tirkey, needs to be tight all through the encounter. Sandeep Singh, elevated to the role of a skipper sweeping aside the previous captains Dilip Tirkey, Prabhodh Tirkey and Ignace Tirkey, has a heavy responsibility cast on him to maintain the visible tempo.

So far, Sandeep has been in the success zone, hitting penalty corners at crucial moments. There is however a filament of criticism from the likes of Nandy Singh, who, logically, questions the wisdom of Sandeep taking the lion’s share in penalty corners without noticeable variations.
Variations hold the key

The veteran Olympian lists this as the cause for India’s failure in the four-nation tournament at Chandigarh. It goes without saying that variation is the key. A better use of Raghunath along with Tirkey and Arjun Halappa can be more profitable.

Admittedly, the strength of this 18-member squad lies in the mid-field, where everyone is skilful and experienced. Gurbaj, Ignace, Vikram and Prabodh are an eye-catching line-up with the competence and craft of Halappa adding to the power.

Equally strong is the frontline, where Prabhjot Singh and Shivendra continue to be the dominating force with support from Tushar Khandekar and Sunil. The unpredictable Bharat Chikara is an additional weapon in the armoury.

While it is safe to distance from overt criticism of the selection by the panel headed by a veteran in the stature of Ajitpal Singh now, the post tournament reaction will certainly be based on the result at Ipoh.

India has never had it carved out so well for etching the name again on the trophy it won last in 1995. Now the team enters the fray as the runner-up to Argentina.

The team: Sandeep Singh (captain), Baljit Singh, Adrian D’Souza, Dilip Tirkey, V. Raghunath, Gurbaj Singh, Vikram Pillay, Prabhjot Singh, Sardara Singh, Ignesh Tirkey, Prabodh Tirkey, Arjun Halappa, Tushar Khandekar, Shivendra Singh, S.B. Sunil,, Ajitesh Rai, Bharat Chikara and Gurvinder Singh Chandi.

Chief coach: Harendra Singh, Assistant coaches: Ramandeep Singh and Romeo James. Manager: Dhanraj Pillay.

Courtesy: The Hindu