Indian hockey is going through turbulent times. It is yet to recover from the shock of failing to qualify for the Olympics for the first time. As a consequence, every move and every tournament involving Indian hockey is being closely monitored. When Ajay Bansal took over as national coach from Joachim Carvalho for the Azlan Shah Cup tournament in Malaysia, there was tremendous pressure on him and the team to show results. “It was one of the greatest challenges in my life. It was like walking on thin ice. But fortunately, the boys, after a shaky start, rose to the occasion. They finished runner-up and there was a huge sigh of relief,” says Bansal.

Excerpts from an interview…

On taking over as coach
Indian hockey is passing through a tough phase and I was aware of the challenges ahead. Fortunately, we did a creditable job in the Azlan Shah Cup tournament. Though there is a long way to go, this, perhaps, is the first step towards the revival of the game in the country. The real test will come when we face big teams like the Netherlands, Australia, Germany or Spain.

On the changing face of Indian hockey
We should not bask in our past glory. We were once the best in the world but that is history. We have been struggling in international competition for the last three decades. The game has changed; it has become faster. Hockey is played soccer-style now. It has become a hit-and-run game. There is little dribbling and the game involves dodges, long passes and a playing rough. We should forget the Asian style of hockey as it will not deliver results in the long run. The best way to stay competitive is to play the Australian way, which is a blend of European and Asian hockey.

On rolling substitutions
The modern game is all about speed, endurance and skill. We have the skill and that is the reason we are able to provide close contests to the best teams in the world. But as far as speed and endurance are concerned, we lag behind. While a 70-minute fast-paced game can sap the energy of any player, European teams are able to make the best use of rolling substitutions because their bench is very strong. India cannot make efficient use of rolling substitutions as we do not have appreciable bench strength. As a result, first-choice players sometimes play the full 70 minutes even though their energy levels might be down. This results in players losing their focus towards the fag end of matches. Other teams capitalise on this weakness and apply pressure on the Indian defence.

On ball possession and dribbling in hockey
The dribbling of India and Pakistan is a treat to watch — but this skill could soon become a thing of the past. In the modern game, you cannot hang on to the ball for a long period — maybe for one or two dodges, but not longer. Ball possession is important and tapping skills should be strong.

On the role of penalty corners specialists
While hockey matches are won and lost on penalty corners (PCs), India suffers the most in this department. We either fail to convert the PCs or concede goals through PCs at crucial moments. The good news is that we have promising drag-flickers in Sandeep Singh and Diwakar Ram. Dropping Sandeep from the pre-Olympic tournament was a big mistake as he could have made a huge difference to the Indian team. If Sandeep had been in the team, India might have qualified for the Beijing Olympics. We need to capitalise on our drag-flickers while not relying too much on just two players. We should create a pool of drag-flickers and rotate them in important tournaments. India suffered at the Athens Games in 2004 as we did not have the right replacement for Sandeep, who was injured a few days before the Olympics.

On hiring foreign/specialist coaches
There is nothing wrong in having a foreign coach as his inputs will undoubtedly be useful. There is always something new to learn and there is no harm in experimenting. At the same time, I am all for foreign exposures for our players. The more you play, the more experience the players gain. As for specialist coaches, they have become a necessity, much like video analysis. A goalkeeping coach could be useful for the goalkeeper; similarly for defenders and midfielders. In fact, many teams have specialised coaches. It is no longer about having just a coach and manager accompanying a team as the support system sometimes swells to nine to ten members.

On how education can improve performance
A major problem that Indian hockey faces today is that many players lack proper education. Education can help players learn the game quickly. The modern day game is based on modern technology. Planning is done with the aid of computers and ignorance of computers can prove to be an obstacle for players who are not educated. A change in mindset is required.

On umpires pulling up Indian players
Indian players need to be aware of modern-day rules. If Indian players are sometimes indisciplined it is because they are let off for even a serious offence in domestic tournaments; when they play in international tournaments, they are punished heavily for the same offence. Players have to respect umpires. We can’t keep complaining about umpiring as this can only harm our chances. We must learn to be diplomatic and umpire-friendly.