I have to wait for my turn: Diwakar

Sudheendra Tripathi, TNN

MUMBAI: Get your chance and grab it. That’s the mantra for India’s drag flickers off late. For, ever since former India star Jugraj Singh has been handed the reins of grooming Indian drag flickers, many claimants for a spot in the playing XI have emerged. Sandeep Singh is a tried and trusted armour, Dhananjay Mahadik has worked extra hours to gain a reputation of being a short corner specialist.

And recently, Indian Overseas Bank defender Rupinder Singh is India’s new short corner sensation. In fact, he was the only drag flicker at the recently-concluded Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament in Malaysia to make it to the Azlan Shan XI.

Amid all this, Oil and Natural Gas (ONGC) defender Diwakar Ram also hopes to make it difficult for the Indian selectors by staking a claim. Ram had last represented India at the FIH World Cup held in Delhi last year.

“It is a very tough competition,” Ram admitted while speaking to TOI after his team’s 3-0 win over Bangalore Engineering Group (BEG), Pune.

“Rupinder has been doing extremely well. There are others like Sandeep and Dhananjay (Mahadik) who are established. All I can do is wait for my turn. And when that opportunity comes knocking, grab it and make the most of it,” Ram added.

Talking about the transition from turf to grass, Ram said: “Grass par khelna ab thoda difficult hai. You can’t commit for a 50-50 ball. For, if you miss, then there is no recovery. Instead, the trick to play on grass is to play the waiting game.”

“Drag-flicks don’t work on grass. A lot of variations have to be tried during short corners,” he added. Ram’s reasoning perhaps sums the reason why not many goals have come through the short corner channel.