Nobbs satisfied with India’s Olympic hockey schedule
Nobbs felt that the draw did not favour any particular team. (TOI Photo)
BANGALORE: Australia’s hockey coach Ric Charlesworth is unhappy with his team’s Olympic hockey schedule, saying the early starts may prove to be disruptive to the Kookaburras but his India counterpart Michael Nobbs argued that it wasn’t a given that Australia should get a favourable draw just because they are the top team .
India face the Netherlands in their Pool B game on July 30, the opening day of the hockey tournament at the Riverbank Arena. In Group A, Australia take on South Africa on the same day but later in the competition , the top ranked team in the world will play three 8.30 am games against Spain, Argentina and Pakistan while world No.2 and defending champions Germany play no early games , according to Hockey Australia’s website .
Charlesworth was quoted as saying by the website that the schedule was unfair. “I don’t expect special treatment, I expect not to be disadvantaged, out of five matches you may expect one 5am start for our athletes not three,” Charlesworth said.
“It interferes with momentum, as major finals won’t be played at that hour and it interrupts our routine over two weeks. Early games should be fairly distributed among all teams.”
Nobbs, who is a contemporary of Charlesworth, agreed that the draw prepared by the International Hockey Federation ( FIH) was tough for the Aussies but felt it did not favour any particular team. “The draw shows no favouritism. I am not sure how it is done but if it is a blind draw, it’s just bad luck,” the Aussie told TOI.
“I do agree Australia have a tough draw. But why should the top team get a favourable draw just because they are top? The German men too have three tough games at 9.15pm as they won’t get back to the village until after midnight. Trying to get to sleep is a nightmare at that hour after playing a game.”
India’s matches at the Olympic Games are scheduled in the afternoon when temperatures are far more tolerable and moderate than in the mornings or late evenings. Nobbs’ boys face Netherlands on July 30 (4pm), New Zealand on August 1 (1.45pm), Germany on August 3 (1.45pm), Korea on August 5 (1.45pm) and Belgium on August 7 (4pm).
Nobbs said he was satisfied with the scheduling of the India matches. “I think our draw is a good one. Our games are all at 1.45pm and 4pm. So our times are good,” Nobbs said.
The chief coach also felt playing the Netherlands in the lung-opener is a blessing in disguise. “We have to play them at sometime so first up is a good time,” he said.