Indian hockey aim to groom drag-flickers

Aby Jose

BANGALORE: The Indian hockey team’s semifinal loss to Malaysia at the Guangzhou Asian Games underlined the need for the team to develop a core group of drag-flick specialists.

Going into extra-time, India were handicapped by ace set-piece specialist Sandeep Singh’s absence on the field when a penalty corner came their way while Malaysia converted a penalty corner soon after to grab the golden goal and the match. India thus missed a berth in the final: an Asiad gold would have ensured them a direct qualification to London Olympics next year.

But all is not lost, particularly on the penalty corner front.
In VR Raghunath and Diwakar Ram, the two drag-flickers who missed the Commonwealth and Asiad bus, the country has enough firepower and depth to fall back upon. The duo, which owns a high percentage of penalty corner conversion rate on the domestic circuit, is no less talented than the best in the business.

“The mindset of a team is vital during crunch situations and that’s where India faltered at the Asiad. A single player can’t win you matches all the time and an experienced supporting hand is essential. Also, it is important for the drag-flicker to conserve energy for the flicks because it is like is racing a car from 0-100 kph in no time,” remarked Raghunath, who has about 70 appearances for the national team but was out of the senior side throughout last year.

The 21-year-old Ram, junior to Raghunath, too felt that at least two drag-flickers in the side could be beneficial in more than one way. “If you have two flickers with good conversion rate available during a penalty corner execution, the defending team would be caught in two minds about the strategy – probably thinking about either the variation options available for the attacking side or whom to put the main focus on,” said the Uttar Pradesh lad Ram, who has featured in the 2010 World Cup.

The two flickers have an almost common style quite different from the unorthodox ‘javelin footwork’ of Sandeep. But like most specialists, both Raghunath and Ram prefer the direct flick, but for various reasons.

“If you look at the penalty corner flicks at all levels, 90 per cent of them are direct strikes because that is the most dangerous of all options. It is difficult for a goalkeeper to judge a fierce flick,” pointed out Raghunath, the highest scorer in Beighton Cup and Nehru Cup.

“It is always better to go for the direct one as it involves only one player once the ball is stopped for the hit. Variation should not be the first option because higher the number of players involved, higher the chances of errors,” cited Ram.

More notably, they are working on their all-round game. While Raghu was confident of not repeating the mistakes he had committed and has worked on improving the ferocity of his flicks and also his method of running, Ram has spent countless hours in the gym to pack power in his limbs.

Ram has shifted from the role of a defender to that of a midfielder for his employers ONGC off late as also for Fortis in the Karnataka Super Division league.

“It all depends on team requirements. If I am not ready to do that, I might have to sit out because there are many flickers who play in deep defence,” said Ram.

The Bangalore-based Raghunath takes penalty corner tips from former India drag-flicker and state-mate Len Aiyappa while Ram banks on another expert Jugraj Singh. However, there is one priceless constant which the young duo has always put faith upon – hard work. And, both are hopeful that the immense effort they have put in would result in a national recall soon.