We have to take it match by match: Harendra
GUANGZHOU: The Indian men’s hockey team, aiming to book a berth in the 2012 London Olympics after missing out Beijing Games two years, needs to look at the immediate picture at hand before thinking of the bigger scenario, according to national coach Harendra Singh.
“I think we have got to play the way we played against Pakistan and England (semis) in the Commonwealth Games. It is crucial to take it match by match, in getting three points from every match and then focusing on the semifinals,” Harendra said.
The Indian team is practising from November 5, the day it arrived in Guangzhou.
Harendra said that the ultimate aim of the team is to gain a berth at the London Olympics two years from now and that can happen only if the gold medal comes in its clutches.
“The actual target is to gain a direct berth in the London Olympics and for that we have to go for the gold and nothing less than that would solve the problem. We are improving day by day,” the coach said.
Harendra said that during its training sessions the team was working hard at improving its defence that was caught napping at Delhi during CWG when it lost heavily to Australia in the league phase as well as in the final.
“Defence was a concern in the Commonwealth Games and we are working hard on it,” he said, adding that penalty corner conversion has improved with Dhananjay Mahadik and Sandeep Singh taking care of the important task.
Rajpal Singh-led India are in the same pool as arch-rivals Pakistan and the much-awaited clash between them is scheduled for November 20.
Pakistan have included veteran penalty corner specialist Sohail Abbas to beef up the department.
The men’s team have been placed in Pool B along with Pakistan, Japan, Bangladesh and Hong Kong China.
India, who finished outside the medal bracket in the Asian Games for the first time in 2006, open their campaign against Hong Kong China on November 15 and then face Bangladesh two days later and Japan on November 21.
Pool A comprises defending champions South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Oman and hosts China.
Indian women will play their first tie on November 13 against Malaysia. The women’s competition will be played in a round robin format among China, South Korea, Japan, India, Malaysia, Kazakhstan and Thailand.
In the Doha Asiad in 2006, the Indian men finished fifth while the women won the bronze medal.