‘Freedom from fear worked for the team’
13 Apr 2009: Biswajyoti Brahma,TNN

NEW DELHI: There are fears no more, no mental blocks. With a new-found attitude, the Indian hockey team is seeking to rediscover lost ground. The same players who appeared meek and apprehensive not very long back, seem to have been transformed into an aggressive unit with each and every member oozing confidence. The title win in the the Azlan Shah meet in Ipoh on Sunday and the runners-up finish in the four-nation event in Chandigarh recently have indicated change is in the air.

How did this turnaround happen? “Not long ago, there was always a sense of fear among the players. They were always apprehensive about what’s going to happen the next day. There was an air of uncertainty. But the mindset has changed now,” said AK Bansal, former India coach who is now training the junior national team. “The mental block is slowly clearing away. The players have started to get into the winning momentum,” he felt.

Bansal said the positive attitude of the team is reflected by its goalscoring ability in recent times. “Just look at India’s scoring in Azlan Shah Cup where we scored through both penalty corners and field efforts which is a very good sign.”

Bansal, who would be in charge of the team for the Junior World Cup in June, said Sunday’s Azlan Shah triumph was a testimony that the players’ positive attitude has started to bear fruits. “But it’s just the beginning. The players are getting used to the winning attitude. And once they have it, it would be a better team.”

Jagbir Singh, former Olympian and director of planning in the ad-hoc committee which is running the game in the country presently, agreed and added that the turnaround was possible because the players as well as the coaches were secure in their position in the team.

“These are early days and many things are yet to be done. Azlan Shah should serve as an appetiser with the main course yet to come. But going by the way the team has played in recent times, I can say that it has improved on various fronts including confidence and consistency. The players are not schoolboys and they are no longer treated that way.”

Jagbir said there were some players who were considered “finished” earlier but have emerged as top performers in the last one year.