The Hindu: It’s been a tale of twists and turns
S. Thyagarajan
IPOH: That the final set of matches on Saturday should determine the finalists for the next day purveys the twists and turns so far in the Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament here. The possibilities are quite a few as all the four teams playing on Saturday are in with a chance to make it to the final.
India has complicated things, as it always tends to do, by figuring in two drawn matches of the three played. With a bit of grit, planning and imagination, the team could have snatched victories and been on top of the table.
Capitulation in the fading minutes of a contest continues to haunt India and it was clear against Egypt and New Zealand. In both the games, India surrendered a 2-1 lead — seconds before to Egypt and around seven minutes from the end to New Zealand.
Crunch-time blues
India, needing a draw, locks horns with Pakistan in the first match on Saturday. Times without number India has failed to get the better of Pakistan in pressure situations. Whether the team can overcome this, is best left to conjecture.
For the record, India played Pakistan last in the same tournament in 2008 and won by the odd goal in three.
For those statistically minded, India and Pakistan have clashed 137 times so far with the former winning 42, losing 72, drawing 23 and scoring 246 goals against 323 conceded.
It goes without saying that the team looks up to the rangy striker Sandeep Singh to score from penalty corners. He has struck four of the seven goals scored by India.
In modern hockey, penalty corners are the deciding factors in many matches, but with a forward line as skilful as the one India has here, it must give a helping hand to Sandeep.
It is regrettable that there has been no variation in the execution of penalty corners other than Sandeep using the strength of his long arms and shoulders to pump the ball into the boards or strike the roof of the net. Strikers like Prabhjot, in poor form this time, Shivendra and Tushar Khandekar should chip in with a goal or two.
Pakistan rejuvenated
After being in the dumps after two defeats, Pakistan has regained some confidence thanks to the excellent show by Shakeel Abbasi against Egypt.
That Pakistan will be all geared up to snatch a victory over India needs no over-emphasis. Such a result may even put the team in the final if Malaysia overcomes New Zealand.
The home team, which has had a roller-coaster ride against Pakistan and Egypt, faces a tough test against the Kiwis in the background of a humiliating 3-0 reverse with India.
Assuming that all the Asian teams are preparing for the next month’s Asia Cup at Kuantan, the first ever trophy triumph on Sunday would not only give the home team a great boost but also vindicate the nomination of the new coach, Tai Beng.
Professional approach
When it comes to the pattern of methodical efficiency, the Kiwis stand apart.
Though the campaign has been one of experimentation, for the qualification to the next World Cup, the structuring of the team is thoroughly professional.
Striking is their systematisation in the approach work and technical excellence to suit the strategies.
The Malaysians have a very hard opponent even though a draw is sufficient to ensure a final berth for them.
Points table (Read as team, played, won, drawn lost, goals for, goals against, points): Malaysia 3-2-0-1-7-6-6; India 3-1-2-07-4-5; New Zealand 3-1-2-0-6-5-5; Pakistan 3-1-0-2-8-6-3; Egypt 4-0-2-2-4-11-2.
Saturday’s matches: India vs. Pakistan, Malaysia vs. New Zealand.