We’ll qualify for the Olympics: Tushar

Biswajyoti Brahma, TNN

NEW DELHI: They are upbeat and in a mood to defy their critics. The Indian hockey players are confident that they will make it to the London Olympics by winning the qualifiers at home next month, unfazed by their performance in the past when they showed a tendency to choke under pressure.

Their confidence, according to the players, stems from the fact that they are “100 per cent” fit, both physically and mentally. “I am sure we will qualify for the Olympics,” said striker Tushar Khandekar after an intense practice session under coach Michael Nobbs.

When asked why he was so sure given India’s tendency to squander golden opportunities at key moments in big tournaments, Khandekar referred to the tournaments India have played recently – the Champions Challenge where they finished second and the Asian Champions Trophy which they won. “We are working on not conceding short corners in matches. We are also focussed on playing attacking hockey to score more goals.”

In the Olympic qualifiers, world No. 10 India will be fighting with lower-ranked teams Canada (14), France (18), Poland (19), the United States (24) and Italy (28). “There is no strong or weak team in modern hockey. We have to beat everybody to qualify,” he said.

Fellow player Sardar Singh said the improved performance of the players in recent times had to do with their “improved fitness”. “The fitness of players has surely improved under physio David John.”

John himself said that some of the players have improved as much as 40 per cent since July, the time he joined the probables. “We have different training plans for different players. They have improved and I would call them hockey-fit. They need to work on their strength. It’s still not at the level of the Australians or the Kiwis. We are working on it though it can’t be done in a short time like three months,” he said.