Indian hockey on right track: Harendra

Sandip G
CHENNAI: What reeled off as a demoralising campaign, being held by minnows Egypt, concluded on a promising note as India regained the Sultan Azlan Shah Trophy after 13 years. Though detractors would blather that the feat was achieved against mediocre sides, coachin- charge Harendra Singh reckons this a timely shot in the arm.

Though elated, Harendra wants to evaluate the win in terms of India’s recent performances. “We have been performing reasonably well in the last few months. We beat Argentina and New Zealand, two sides ranked above us, at their home. True, we could have performed better in certain matches like the Punjab Gold Cup final and the Azlan Shah match against Egypt.

But we are a hungry side, constantly striving for improvement,” said Harendra.

Against the criticism that the gold was achieved against weaker oppositions, Harendra countered: “A gold is a gold, no matter who your opponents are. I don’t think the opponents were weak. Two teams were better ranked than us while Malaysia are quite competitive at home.” But the prologue to the campaign was hardly promising as Egypt held India 2-2.

“We played so badly that we didn’t deserve to win the match. But at no point did we give up hope of winning a medal. The boys knew that it was still within their reach and recovered superbly,” he opined.

While Sandeep Singh, the top-scorer of the tournament, was adjudged the Player of the Tournament, final’s Man of the Match Arjun Halappa was the creative nerve among the Indian ranks. But Harendra attributes the win to teamwork. “It’s always good that individuals come up with strong performances. Sandeep and Arjun contributed vitally for us, but the team as a whole deserves equal credit,” he pointed out.

Importantly, this has lent momentum before the Asia Cup in Malaysia next month. Far from complacent, Harendra understands the need to sustain the velocity.

“It’s not just Asia Cup, but we have a few crucial fixture before the Commonwealth and Asian Games, and then the World Cup. Winning gold in the Commonwealth would be the ideal confidence booster for a World Cup medal,” he said.

On a personal note, Harendra was jubilant that he has effaced the ghosts of the dubious debacle that was the 2004 edition, when India inexplicably finished last.