Our history will inspire us, says Bharat Chetri

Stick2hockey.com special from London

It was in the summer of 1908 that hockey made its Olympic debut in England, a country that hosts the Olympics for the third time. In fact, hockey has come home in London, where our Lions are to lock horns with The Netherlands — a country where India won its first Olympic gold in 1928 — tomorrow.

A century later, the equations have changed drastically for India but the feeling that it evokes remains the same. India did not figure in the first two Olympic hockey competitions, leaving England to walk away with the gold, and then once it made its debut 20 years later, it made its own history.

Talk of the Olympics, and it is impossible not to ruffle the history books and turn around the glorious chapters of Indian hockey. And it is from those chapters that skipper Bharat Chetri and his boys look to “find inspiration” from once the men’s hockey action begins tomorrow.

“In the 1920s we had started winning in hockey. We won Independent India’s first Olympic gold here in England,” recollects captain Chetri. “History may not have anything to do with the performance of the team, but it sure will inspire us.”

The players are itching for action. It has been eight years since they have been at the biggest stage – the Olympics.

India’s opening game against The Netherlands will pit them against one of the top five nations. The next two – against New Zealand and defending champions Germany — hold great significance and can define India’s path in the tournament.

Indian coach Michael Nobbs sounded wary of the Dutch on the eve of the match. “The Dutch are a very consistent team, and that is their strength,” Nobbs said. “They have won two silvers and a gold in the last four Olympics.”

The Dutch will rely on midfielder Teun de Nooijer, who will be playing his sixth Olympics.
“De Nooijer will be playing as a striker here and that can be dangerous. We are looking to start on a positive note and will need to be at our best.”

India, placed in Pool B, will face New Zealand, Korea, holders Germany and Belgium.
Pool A action will see Australia, Spain, Pakistan, South Africa, Great Britain and Argentina.
The Indian team trained for close to an hour and a half on Sunday, focusing on penalty corner drills.

The match starts 20.30 hrs IST; DD Sports will telecast the match live. You can also catch the live text commentary in www.stick2hockey.com