Rajpal predicts semis spot for India

M.S. Unnikrishnan

Tribune News Service

Indian hockey team captain Rajpal Singh said the preparation of the team for the Hero Honda FIH World Cup, to be held at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium here from February 28 to March 13, was shaping up on expected lines. He said the hosts will definitely have the advantage of adapting to the stadium and playing surface nearly four weeks ahead of the competition. He said the newly-laid synthetic surface at the main stadium was playing true and hard, giving the players a firm grip of the surface. “The practice sessions are good”, he said. “We came early, and the benefit is there”, added the captain.

Rajpal said the team were working out various strategies, adopting the good and weeding out the superfluous. “We have adopted the good parts of European hockey, yet maintaining our skill, which is our strong point. We are improving the plus points”. He said the team were working on attacks, counter-attacks and short corners to sharpen the game in these departments. He felt the team’s tendency of conceding last-minute goals was a thing of the past as they beat Argentina 3-2 recently by scoring the winning goal at the fag end. “So we have improved”, said Rajpal with a deceptive smile.

The captain said it was good that India would be playing Pakistan first, which would be a tough contest, but he was wagering on Australia to emerge as the best team. He also expected India to figure among the first four. “I put myself (the Indian team) up. I am not putting down any team”, he reacted when asked about his optimism about India reaching the semi-final stage.

Rajpal said there has been tremendous improvement in the team spirit, after the recent spat between the players and Hockey India on settlement of the players’ financial dues. “There is ekta (unity) in the team”, he summed up.

Meanwhile, the normally voluble chief coach Jose Brasa kept a studious silence, as he had been directed by the higher-ups to keep his mouth shut. “I will not speak to the press. If I do, they (the Sports Authority of India or the Sports Ministry) will send me out of India . And I will be jobless”, he said matter-of-factly.

The Indian senior team, junior team, who won the silver medal in the recent SAF Games in Dhaka and some of the women players were hosted to a reception by Sahara India chief Subroto Roy. The Indian team let their hair down to thoroughly enjoy the free evening, with Deepak Thakur giving a fine exposition of his bhangra dancing steps. Jose Brasa and some other players moved in step to the vibrant music to jive with Deepak.

Earlier, the changing dynamics to the race to the top post of Hockey India, whenever the elections are held, became clear when Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi disclosed that he was trying to “persuade” Sahara chief Subroto Roy to become the Hockey India president.