Hockey players focus on first-ever medal at the Games

NEW DELHI: Never mind the controversies, the Indian men’s hockey team is focused on just one thing – winning an unprecedented Commonwealth Games medal. Their women counterparts already have two CWG medals, including a gold to boast of, but the men have not been able to finish on the podium yet in these Games and are keen to turn things around.

“We are not at all concerned about the controversies. We have just one goal and that’s to win the gold medal at the Games before the home crowd,” captain Rajpal Singh told TOI on Monday.

Rajpal is aware that history is not on their side when they take on the field at the Dhyan Chand stadium. He’s also aware that six of the nine other teams in the fray are acquainted with conditions at the National Stadium, having played here in the World Cup in March.

But he’s unperturbed. “This is a tough competition and we are prepared for the challenge. There are some very good teams, most of them played in India only six months back. It won’t be a cakewalk, but we are determined to do well.”

Rajpal’s teammate and striker Tushar Khandkar agreed when he said that the team had worked hard in their preparations for the Games.

“We have worked hard at camps. This is a special Games for us since we will be playing in front of our home crowd. So we are keen to play well in the competition,” he said before heading to a training camp at the venue under the watchful eyes of coach Jose Brasa.

Captain Rajpal said that the team had learned from the mistakes it made at the World Cup, where it finished eighth in a 12-team event. “I must say that we have identified the mistakes made on the earlier occasion and will try not to commit the same now.”

India are pitted in Pool A in the Commonwealth Games with Australia, Pakistan, Malaysia and Scotland.