There is a honesty with these girls who are here in Madrid to represent India at the World Cup. They go about their routines without allowing the tempo get on to their heads. Neither do they overate themselves nor under-estimate their potential. Captain Jothi Sunita Kullu¨s reply to my rather usual journalistic question amply proves this. Who will be the star players of this world cup, she was asked. Pat came the reply: Anybody who plays well. Nam se kuch bhi nai, khel ne se hota hai (Game matters not the names). We are all good at domestic, and in some international tournaments. But world cup is the right stage to spot stars. Past records hardly matter”.
A player who has been donning Indian colours continuosly since 1995 says this. What a right judgement and a further more impressive attitude.
In the course of discussion with her here at the team hotel (Emperador), she even gives an impression that her being appointed as the leader for the world cup is not badi baath (big matter) though she feels a bit more responsible with the additional duty. “We go by what we are trained and the instructions given by the coach. As a leader I would like to play my best individually and thus motivate the youngsters. If we seniors do well, that will automatically fire up the youngsers”.
Jothi¨s concern for youngsters are understandable. Half of the present team members were not even in the line up when India won the Asia Cup because of which we directly qualfied to this World Cup.
Jothi, another gem from the Sundargarh stable, feels her fitness is at right shape now, recovering after the hamstring injury she sustained at the March Commonwealth Games. “We would have done better than finishing with silver, had we not encountered injuries. I could not play the final and also then captain Sumarai. Would not it affect the team? She asks your opinion.
Incidentally, Sumarai Tete, another showpiece for honesty and sincerity, opted out of world cup selection, citing lack of fitness. According to manager Anurita Saini, Sumarai told the IWHF that she is far from recovery and withdrew her own. “Appreciating her, IWHF requested her to be in the Asian Games camp. We will certainly miss her here considering her experience but recurring injuries are problem here”, says Saini.
“What will be your advice to the team”, Jothi was asked. “Top teams are here. So also we. Believe in you. Don´t allow any other team to think we are giving in. Keep fight. Results will depend on what we play every day”.
Though Jothi feels every team in the pool is strong, she feels the opener should be a good match because “The Netherlands play an open game like us. But Chinese are different, a tight team, stick to each of us, man to man marking is their asset”.
Jothi has been India´s top scorer, including Champions Challenge Cup and Commonweath Games, but nowadays is playing more on the midfield as a feeder. “I always like to play upfront, but now the coach has given this role. Team´s interest is important and the forwards we have are young. Therefore, no qualms on this count”. But she is a vital cog in the penalty corner drills. Better watch out her there.
Jothi will never let you know each match approach, except saying “all the seven matches are equally important”.
Our girls here talk less, work as per the schdule and mostly confined to the rooms in the rest of times.
Whether team has the word cup pressure? “What world cup pressure. The atmosphere here does not even exisit, just normal as it would be in most of invitational tournaments. We should make use of this simple atmosphere prevailing here so that we are here to play a tournament just like we did many more.”
There cannot be a honest statement better than this.