Stick check – Need to address the mental block

Arjun Halappa

LAST OUTING

India need to get over the NZ drubbing quickly

We now play for the fifth pot against Korea on Sunday. It will be tough but then, there were no easy matches expected here. It will be our character that will be the biggest thing at stake when we take on the Koreans.

Korea came back from a twogoal deficit to beat us in the opening game. They finished their league commitments with a win over Britain.

And they were the jointdefending champions here last year with us. So, they are expected to be more confident than us and equally desperate to sign off on a high. I must admit that the shattering loss to New Zealand cannot be written off easily. It was a bad defeat and there were errors that shouldn’t have happened. In that respect, the pressure will be more on us. That’s where character comes in.

MAKE BREAK COUNT

What will now be tested is how well the boys recover from the defeat and how much they can make the two-day break count.

I will still say that this team is talented.

What they need to prove is that they have as much heart for a fight and as much desperation to win for the country as they have the skills.

In a competition as tough as this, it is up to every team to make or break their chances.
After messing up against New Zealand, we have only ourselves to blame and depending on other teams’ results is not the right approach.

PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED

We had an intense training session on Saturday and worked specifically on areas that have been bothering us.

The on-field mistakes have been identified and, hopefully, been corrected, but more than that it is the mental block that needs to be addressed.

The youngsters are playing under so much pressure but tomorrow we get another chance to show our character.

Playing for the country is always the greatest motivation and it will be the country’s pride at stake against Korea. That should push the boys to give it their best shot.

HOCKEY FEATURES