India is all set to replicate 2001

Year 2001 was eventful and colourful one for India. The title-starved India started the year with the gold at one-off Prime Minister Cup at Dhaka, and finished the year in same style — with Champions Challenge title at Kuala Lumpur.

After winning the gold at Ordos, our boys at Randburg are all set to replicate 2001 – just a match away from winning their second Champions Challenge title.

India reached the final after a hearwarming second half yesterday at Randburg, to ward off the danger of the hosts.

Those who remember need to go ten years back.

At Kuala Lumpur in 2001, India struggled in the league match, but could scrape through to the final, needing a win against Argentina in its last league which it could make out thanks to great charges Dhanraj Pillay had made in the penalty corner drills. Jorge Lombi those days were a danger man.

He got five penalty corner attempts in that crucial match – only a month before he scored four goals through penalty corners in the world cup qualifier – but recalled Dhanraj’s dashing charges blunted Lombi’s bombs.

Dhanraj Pillay also scored the only goal of the Belgium in the opener. It’s now the same team is in the final, with enhanced stature as a team that qualified for the next year’s Olympics.

It must be a heart-break for South Africa again, as it was once again the Indians who prove to be their nemesis.

In the final played on 15th December 2001, Deepak Thakur and captain Baljit Singh Dhillon scored,while for the losing South African side Daniel Dolley struck.

Cedric D’souza was our coach, the team was

Kanwalpreet Singh, Jugraj Singh, Lajrus Barla, Sukhbir Singh Grewal, Baljit singh Dhillon, Daljit Singh Dhillon, Dhanraj Pillay, Deepak Thakur, Prabhjot Singh, Arjun Halappa, Vikram Pillay Ignace Tirkey, Bipin Fernandes, Jude Menezes, gagan Ajit Singh, Radhakrishnan.

Some award winners in 2001 Champions Challenge

Player of the tournament: Mike Cullen (South Africa)

Fair Play: Japan

Top Scorer Jorge Lombi (Argentina)

Player of the final: Baljit Singh Dhillon