dailyO
Sports

Indian hockey is going good, but can get better

Advertisement
S Kannan
S KannanOct 22, 2017 | 11:00

Indian hockey is going good, but can get better

India play Malaysia in the Asia Cup 2017 final on October 22.

Everyone has been making noise over pollution levels during Deepavali, so it's good that the Indian hockey team, too, managed to raise the bar and the decibel level in Asia Cup. This is the cricket season at home and beating rag-tag sides has become a habit. After the prosaic performance from the Australians, the Kiwis are now in India.

Given that much of sport is now watched on television, the Indian hockey team has slowly warmed up in Bangladesh. It's in events like these, when you play traditional rivals Pakistan, that people realise the importance of what it means to win abroad and have the Tricolour flutter.

Advertisement

First things first, with India in Sunday's final, one has to recall the performance dished out by the side against Malaysia. Two losses to Malaysia earlier this year, in the Azlan Shah tournament and the FIH World Hockey League semi-finals in London, were hard to digest.

It needed a loud effort to show the Malaysians that Indian hockey is any day superior. That happened on Deepavali, well before the Capital had lit up and fireworks exploded. A message had been sent to the Indian hockey team before they left for Bangladesh, to show Malaysia what the Indians are capable of.

In the last 25 minutes against Pakistan, the Indians showed flair and switched to attack mode in a smooth manner. Photo: Twitter/Doordarshan News
In the last 25 minutes against Pakistan, the Indians showed flair and switched to attack mode in a smooth manner. Photo: Twitter/Doordarshan News

As the scoreline suggested, it was a command performance full of energy, with old warhorse Sardar Singh also pumping in the sixth goal. It's actually quite easy to get carried away by wins like these. The team has maintained a winning streak, though the draw against South Korea in the opening match in Super 4 stage was worrying.

To be sure, there is plenty of work to be done and the Indians need to know it. There has been a lot of churning in Indian hockey and the exit, or should we say ouster, of coach Roelant Oltmans had made big news two months ago.

Advertisement

Pundits said the Indian team would find it tough in Bangladesh with new coach Sjoerd Marijne at the helm. Watching the Dutchman in his new role as coach of the Indian men's team, it does appear that he is a calm person. Unlike Oltmans, there is no outward show of irritation or frustration when the team muffs chances or suddenly plays club-level hockey.

It's important in a team sport that the coach does not waste too much energy in emotions. So far, so good, is the early report for Marijne, who, apparently, has not tinkered too much with the team's style of playing. What is heartening to note is that Marijne has a good rapport with the players and is ready to listen to them.

Apparently, that was not the case when Oltmans was in command and his moves on the field had become predictable for the opposition. In a way, Marijne has answered a few questions on how a coach who was handling a women's side can also handle the boys.

He has been given an assurance from Hockey India that his job does not come under scrutiny for the first two months. Yet, to see the team win matches in the Asia Cup is good, though many areas need improvement.

Advertisement

Watching the Indian side struggle initially against a weak Pakistan team on Saturday wasn't great viewing. The men from across the border were putting pressure on the Indian defence and earned penalty corners. That no goal resulted was good for India.

It was only in the last 25 minutes or so that the Indians showed flair and switched to the attack mode in a smoother manner. This Pakistan side's defence plus goalkeeper was weaker than what you see in club matches in domestic tournaments at home, like Nehru hockey! For a nation whose sporting plans are in disarray thanks to the political environment in Pakistan, the process of rebuilding is missing.

If cricket weeps in Pakistan and their cricket board complains they have been isolated, their hockey faces a worse situation. In 2014, after their loss to India in the Asian Games final in Incheon, South Korea, coach Shahnaz Shaikh wept that his country not be isolated. He pleaded that teams like India come and play in Pakistan.

Given the "exchanges" on the border, it's unimaginable for Indian sports teams to travel to Pakistan. Looking ahead, irrespective of what the Indian team does in Sunday's final, there are many areas for development. Someone like Bishan Bedi has been following Indian hockey closely and made observations that the side needs to step up to match European teams.

These are valuable comments and come from a cricketing legend whose passion even today for sport is high. His observations, and also those which come from former Indian hockey players, need to be taken in the right spirit. Every Indian wants to see the national hockey team back in the elite zone.

There are important hockey assignments from now till December 2018. Each improvement step will be vital so that the Bharat Mataa Ki Jai chant can be heard even more loudly.

(Courtesy of Mail Today)

Last updated: October 22, 2017 | 14:49
IN THIS STORY
Please log in
I agree with DailyO's privacy policy