Baljit’s injury a huge setback to team: Brasa

M.S.Unnikrishnan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 23

Jose Brasa of Spain, the chief of the Indan hockey team, said the serious eye injury suffered by Baljit Singh was a blow to the team. “Baljit was our No 1 goalkeeper. The injury suffered by him was a very big loss to the team”, said the foreign coach on the eve of the team’s departure for a four-nation, 12-Test tour of Europe.

“But we must get over the problem of losing our No 1 goalie”, Brasa maintained. Hockey India president A.K.Mattoo said Baljit’s injury was “very unfortunate, but we are ensuring that he’s provided the best treatment. We are giving him all the support he needs. The Government will pick up all his treatment expenses”, Matto added.

Brasa said the European tour would be a “learning experience for the team” though he admitted that it was ironic that India, who once ruled the hockey world with eight Olympic golds, had to travel to Europe to discover a new learning curve.

“The fact is that India are now 12th in ranking, and we would be playing against teams ranked 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th in the world. The purpose is to bring India among the firstfour in ranking”, Brasa explained.

“If we want to be among the first four, we have to change things. We need to approach the game in a modern way”, he added. He said the five-week camp at Pune was rather a short

period to assess the team, but still, he could get a fair grip of the plus and minus points.

“The players are excellent. It’s necessary that the players improve. They are very good in top skills, but need to firm up the basic skills (like hitting, trapping, stopping etc)”, Brasa noted.

He said the European tour of England, Belgium, Holland and Spain was to help the team iorn out the flaws and get fine-tuned for the big event – the 2010 World Cup in New Delhi.

“We are teaching the players the positive things. Five weeks are not a long time to prepare a team. But we have a very, very talented team. So we can compete with the top teams in the world”, the coach explained.

He said the idea was to build the team slowly, but surely. “We are not in peak form now. Our peak moment will be the World Cup next year”, the coach added. He said he put thrust on man-to-man marking and defence – the two grey areas of
the team.

“Defence is a big problem. We have to improve a lot”, he added. Indian team captain and drag-flicker Sandeep Singh said the five-week coaching camp under Brasa was a learning experience.”

Badal assures best treatment

Chandigarh: The Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday asked the Additional Resident Commissioner Punjab Bhawan, New Delhi, K Siva Prasad, to enquire the well being of Indian Hockey Team goalkeeper Baljit Singh, who is undergoing treatment at the Rajindra Prasad Eye Centre of AIIMS A CMO spokesman said Prasad visited the goalkeeper and assured him that the Punjab government would extend all possible help in his treatment. — TNS

SAI blamed for missing flight

New Delhi: The Indian hockey team today blamed Sports Authority of India (SAI) officials for the fiasco that saw them missing a flight in Pune and reaching the capital late for the logo unveiling ceremony of the newly-formed national federation. — PTI