THE triumph of Indian Juniors at the Asia Cup is as much a triumph of India over Pakistan (in the final) as that of experience over mere enthusiasm. Coach Harendra Singh hit the nail on its head when he said, “This team has been more or less together for almost two years. And the result is for all to see.” Thirty wins on the trot (from Oct 2002) is a winning spree that puts the Indian colts on par with many a sporting legend and one of the main factors that kept the spree relentless is the relentless belief of the Indian Hockey Federation in the coach. And the coach’s relentless faith in his players.

Player to player, India and Pakistan went into the final on par. But in seventy ‘short’ minutes the wheat had been chaffed, in loud and clear terms. A point had been proven as to what it takes to win an international tournament in modern hockey. Given the ‘home advantage’ Pakistan would have considered themselves pre-match favourites, but little did they expect their Indian counterparts to concoct a brand of hockey that belonged to a much higher plane (at a junior tournament level) altogether.

Yes. India did not depend solely on the talent (enormous of course) of their players when playing the final. Acting as back-up was the long and arduous hours of training Harendra had put in for days together. Acting as a catalyst was the superior temperament which played a crucial role in turning sheer enthusiasm into superb efficiency. With all the three important Ts in the right place, it was only logical that the fourth T (Triumph) fell in place.

As one Pakistan hockey journalist e-chatted up to me on the night of glory of our boys: “India’s performance was way beyond our reach. There was only one winner this evening. India.”

This is one win which Indian Hockey Federation can claim credit for without fear or shame. For it did persist with the coach, despite the few defeats early in his sting and the loads of decry that consequently followed, giving him an apparently free hand while choosing the team. Names like Hari Prasad, Adam Sinclair and AC Kuttappa would have been unheard but for Harendra’s meticulous eye during the all-India tournaments. And the backing the boys got from the coach has indeed returned rich dividends by way of the maiden Junior Asian triumph at Karachi.

The IHF’s persistence with the nucleus went to that extent that even the assistant coach and the physio were not changed ever since they joined hands with Harendra. The assiduous Clarence Lobo and the committed Saju Joseph were the axles on which thinking wheel of Harendra revolved.

Quite ironically, the captain of the current team Sandeep Michael had been a part of this team at no point of time till taking over charge for this tournament. But there too, the IHF’s gameplan clicked, with the BCYA youngster, who became one of those rare players to don the Senior colours without playing for juniors, leading the Indian juniors from the front.
Sandeep Michael might not have played for the juniors, but had gained enough in experience (“big match temperament” to put in his own words) while rubbing shoulders with the likes of Dhanraj Pillay and Baljit Singh Dhillon. And when the time came, with age on his side (literally too), Sandeep put all his resources together to marshall his resources together. And the result is for all to see.

All this points to one important lesson, which the IHF shouldn’t overlook. If experience was the key in junior success, so can it be in India’s Olympic campaign. Case for reinducting Dhanraj and Dhillon for the Athens Assault!

-smageshwaran@hotmail.com

Courtesy Vijay Times, Bangalore