Team India eyeing good show at home

New Delhi, Feb. 19: India have had disappointing results to show for their efforts in their last couple of campaigns at the hockey World Cup. The hosts, however, are confident of a turnaround in the 12th edition of the showcase event which starts here from February 28.

India captain Rajpal Singh and his teammates said they were working hard to improve on their 11th-place finish in the last edition. “We are eyeing a semifinal berth. We are training hard and have adopted some European tactics without leaving our traditional style,” Rajpal told reporters at a felicitation function here on Thursday night.

“We have home advantage on our side. A little bit of pressure will be there but it should work as a positive factor.”

Rajpal chose to downplay their opening tie against archrivals Pakistan and believes Australia and Germany would be the teams to watch out for.

“It is good that India and Pakistan are playing the first match. Apart from Germany, I feel Australia are the toughest side in the tournament. It is good that we will face Australia in the pool and not in the later stages,” he said.

Rajpal also welcomed the presence of three drag-flickers — Sandeep Singh, Diwakar Ram and Dhananjay Mahadik — in the side. “It is for the first time we have three drag-flickers in the team and they are capable of changing the course of a match.”

Senior striker Arjun Halappa has an added motivation to perform at the big stage. “I don’t know whether I will be playing the next World Cup or not. I am not sure how long I will carry on playing hockey. So, personally this World Cup is very important for me.

“As a player I think the first match is crucial for us. It will set the tone for the tournament. I feel we should make it to the the semifinals,” Halappa added.

Prabhjot Singh said being a senior member of the side puts extra burden on him. “There is more responsibility on my shoulders. I have a role to play in the team and I will give my best.

“I have been in the team for a long time and playing the World Cup at home will be a different experience. All the matches are important for us. We will take one match at a time and hope to make it to the semifinals,” he said.

AGE CORRESPONDENT