Australia main threat in Youth Olympic Festival: Bansal

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NEW DELHI: India junior hockey men’s team coach AK Bansal identified Australia as the main obstacle to India’s chances of winning the Australian Youth Olympic Festival scheduled in Sydney from January 14-18.

Bansal feels the recent Argentina exposure trip has made his boys well equipped with the technical aspects of international hockey which will help them to outclass the Aussies.

“Australia is the main threat to us. But the boys are better prepared now to tackle the pacy Australians. If they can showcase the same intensity and speed which they have shown in Argentina, we can win the tournament,” Bansal said.

“The Test series in Argentina in December last year and the just-concluded Bhopal camp will hold us in good stead in the tournament,” he added.

Under Bansal, the U-21 men’s hockey team is on a high in the international circuit. Apart from retaining the Junior Asia Cup title, which earned them a ticket to Junior World Cup in Singapore, Malaysia later this year, the colts also beat World Champions Argentina 1-0 in a four-match away Test series in December last year.

“The Argentina series has given good exposure to the boys. They have adapted themselves to the speed and power of international hockey,” the coach said.

“We are going into the tournament with a positive frame of mind. Hopefully, the boys will give their best,” he added.

Promising drag-flicker Diwarkar Ram will lead the 16-member India team in the tournament which will also feature host Australia, Malaysia and Great Britain.

The team will leave for Sydney on Friday morning.