The smiling assassin

Indian hockey ace Prabhjot Singh has his eyes firmly set on the World Cup in New Delhi

Vaibhav Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 6

These have been interesting times for Indian hockey. The World Cup awaits in our own backyard, the FIH is still looking for a duly-elected Hockey India, all the power mongers are after any post in the federation and the fuss over stadium work being delayed or incomplete refuses to go away. All this while the team sweats it out at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi. The entire pack is looking forward to the World Cup. Practice is on under lights and the intensity can be unnerving for the faint-hearted.

Among all this, one man sounds the board for the nth time. The ball crashes into the goal, and the scorer has a wry smile on his face, as if saying, ‘wait till the crowd sees that’. For Prabhjot Singh, this is the big moment. He was at the helm of the players’ revolt earlier, and now the prolific India forward has been working hard to be at his peak when the world turns its eyes and cameras on Delhi from February 28 onwards.

Q: With controversies behind us, how is the team feeling now?

A: Yes, the controversies were a little unsettling, but now the team is focusing on the World Cup only. Being played out in New Delhi the mega event has assumed even more significance for us. The team are in a positive frame of mind.

Q: There have been talks of a rift between some senior player and the coach. How true is that?

A: There is no truth to these rumours. The team is a united pack, as everyone saw during recent times. The coach has the respect of all, and we have complete confidence that good things are bound to happen to this bunch.

Q: Talking of unity, there were talks of groupism in the team. Is there any truth to that?

A: Not at all. As I said, the team put up a united front during the strike. That unity can be seen on the field as well and we are keen to put all these negative things behind us.

Q: Have you set yourself any specific goals for the World Cup?

A: Well, I just hope to be playing well and fitting into the role the team expects me to play. If all of us can successfully do that, then surely we will see good results. This, after all, is a team game and there is no place for the individual.

Q: What has been the contribution of Jose Brasa? He was recently quoted saying that a fifth place finish for India was reasonable. Your views.

A: Well, you never step on the field thinking that you will lose. But we did not even finish in the top 10 last time around. So we are looking at possible improvement. Rest, about Brasa, well he is a wonderful person who has immense knowledge of the sport and I am sure we will benefit from his experiences.

Q: Any thoughts floating in your mind before the World Cup?

A: I just want to see people back in the stadiums. I know they want the team to do well, but what I say is just make the effort of coming to the stadium to cheer India.

It makes a world of a difference to a player’s mindset when he knows that thousands of people are cheering him on. Lets hope that we don’t disappoint the public, and they don’t disappoint us.