We will focus on World Cup: Rajpal

NEW DELHI: India’s hockey captain Rajpal Singh believes the team can draw a lot of positives from their Champions Challenge campaign that will help them in their preparation for the upcoming World Cup at home.

India finished with a bronze after beating Argentina in the play-off, but once again missed the berth for the elite Champions Trophy.

Rajpal said losing to Pakistan 3-6 in the semi-finals was a heartbreak for the players.

“We went there to win the tournament and we believed that we have the team to qualify for the Champions Trophy. So the loss against Pakistan was disappointing.

“We played well against Pakistan. But it was not our day. We missed a couple of chances and that proved costly,” Rajpal said after returning home from Argentina on Thursday.

“In the final, Pakistan was the better team against New Zealand, but they lost. So one loss does not mean that we have become a bad team suddenly. But we have learnt our lessons. We have to plan better before any match.”

India have lost twice to Pakistan this year — they earlier went down to the arch-rivals in the Asia Cup in May.

“We have lot of positives to take from the tournament. We converted three of the four short corners against Pakistan and that was a good sign. Sardar Singh was adjudged the player of the tournament. It was a boost for the team.”

“We will be focussing on the World Cup now. We have not played the top teams so often, so we have to study their game and get ready for the challenge. Pakistan are also drawn in our pool in the World Cup and we have to plan well against them.”

Rajpal said overall the team has improved this year.

“There is improvement in our game. When we played in the Asia Cup, we were fifth in Asia and in Champions Challenge where eight teams from around the world compete, we finished with a bronze. So we have moved ahead.”

Rajpal said that drag-flicking is one area where the team has done well in Champions Challenge.

“Our drag flickers — Dhananjay Mahadik, Diwakar Ram and Raghunath — have played well in the tournament and it is a good sign for the team.”