The Hindu: Penalty corners will remain important: Peillat

By Nandakumar Marar

Argentina is ranked World No. 2, following the men’s hockey title it won at the 2016 Rio Olympics. The profiles of the Argentine players have changed, from gritty performers to match-winners.

Uttar Pradesh Wizards’ defender Gonzalo Peillat, the top-scorer at Rio and the 2014 World Cup, does not think drag-flickers will lose prominence in field hockey.

Under guidance from the FIH, the sport is experimenting with innovations to bring in more skill into matchplay.

Two goals for a field goal in the ongoing Coal India-Hockey India League is resulting in strategic changes.

Players tasked with penalty corner setpieces are trained by coaches to attempt the indirect variation also.

Drag-flickers like Gonzalo do not step up and fire home each time a penalty corner drill is executed.

The 24-year-old Buenos Aires native took one corner attempt via the direct route for Wizards, then watched Harmanpreet Singh convert two out of two, both drag-flicks for Dabang Mumbai at the Mahindra Stadium.

Gonzalo believes penalty corners will retain value in matchplay, even as thrilling field goals become talking points.

The Rio Olympics did not have any distinction between the type of goals, field or setpieces.

Argentina banked on the youngster’s ability in penalty corners (11 goals and the top-scorer honour), to win the first men’s gold medal.

Gonzalo talks about the popularity of the sport back home after the Rio Olympics and the reasons behind Argentina’s success, in an exclusive chat.

Excerpts:

The podium finish at the 2016 Rio Olympics

We started in silence, did not say anything about our expectations in the competition. Everyone knows now, we won the gold.

Of course, we believed in ourselves. Learning game by game was the key.

The qualities which stood out in Argentina’s success

I must say Argentina played excellent hockey.

We showed that we were the better team, more efficient than others.

After losing to India (group phase), we beat Spain (quarterfinals), Germany (semifinal) and Belgium (final).

Change in life after returning home with the gold

Life changed for all of us. Back home in Argentina, a lot of people now know about hockey players. Sometimes when we are on the streets, people ask for pictures with us. I can say for sure we are more popular now.

Finishing as top-scorer

I did not plan it, but before the Rio competition, we had an army (multiple options) for the corners and used it in the tournament. The team believed in me when it came to converting and that was the key to success.

HIL’s innovation to reward two goals for one field goal

I think the rule is a bit strange because penalty corners are very important. They (Dabang Mumbai) scored two from corners and won the match.

The two goals for every field goal, we have to see how it goes in the coming matches. I see the penalty corners remaining very important for teams in the coming years.