‘China won’t shock us like they did in Doha’: Dhanraj Pillay
By: Ashwin Ferro Date: 2009-05-12 Place:Mumbai

In a way, China can be held chiefly responsible for the recent slide of Indian hockey. The Chinese side shocked India in the 2006 Doha Asian Games by throwing them out of the semi-final race, denying them a medal and with it an automatic qualification for the Olympics.

Dhanraj Pillay

Consequently, India were forced to play a six-nation Olympic qualifier tournament in Santiago, Chile, which they lost and failed to make it to the Beijing Olympics (for the first time in 80 years). Then coach Joaquim Carvalho resigned amidst severe criticism and Indian hockey hit rock-bottom.

China now have another chance to throw India out of the semi-final race, this time in the Asia Cup in Malaysia when they take on the Sandeep Singh-led side today in a crucial league match that will decide the second semi-finalist from Pool B.

However this time around, the Indian camp is confident they will not let the Chinese repeat history. “Whatever happened in Doha is history. That was one of the worst chapters in Indian hockey and I can assure you the boys will not let that repeat,” Indian team manager and four-time Olympian Dhanraj Pillay told MiD DAY from the Kuantan Hockey Stadium in Malaysia yesterday.

Pakistan have already qualified as the other semi-finalist from Pool B having drawn 1-1 with China and beaten India 3-2. As China need only a draw to progress, the pressure is on India with the neighbours expected to play a defensive game. However, that will lead to their downfall, according to Pillay. “In our loss to Pakistan, I noticed that our boys were not dodging players in one-on-one situations. We have a very skillful set of players.
So, we have encouraged them to dodge the opposition more often,” said Pillay.

However, this does not mean the Indian forwards won’t be passing the ball around today. “Dodging becomes compulsory when you have an opposition player in front of you and no teammate to pass to. Dodging also helps a player create additional space for himself besides giving him immense confidence and making the opponent wary of his next move. That has been Indian hockey’s strength. Our boys must play to our strength and dodge the Chinese players,” explained Pillay.

Looks like the Chinese, world famous for their own brand of medicine, are in for some traditional Indian hockey remedies at the Kuantan Stadium today.