The Hindu : Asia Cup: Indians should look into positive aspects

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 16, 2003

Sport

Sport - Hockey

Asia Cup: Indians should look into positive aspects

By S. Thyagarajan

Chennai Sept. 15. Even as the delight, despair and distress of the Champions Trophy are slowly fading away from memory, another knot of expectation surfaces with India all set for a conquest of the Asia Cup at Kuala Lumpur next week.

In the three weeks that separate the Champions Trophy at Amstelveen and the forthcoming Asian Championship from September 21, the events that kept hockey on the lips of everyone were manifold. But tragic among them was the car smash involving the rising star on the horizon, Jugraj Singh, raising misgivings about what the future holds for this gallant warrior.

Suddenly, everything seems to have turned topsy-turvy, and the cascade of sympathy that flowed for Jugraj across the sports spectrum was phenomenal. While the concern expressed for the welfare of Jugraj almost raised the profile of hockey re-emerging as a major sport, which it is by any yardstick, there was genuine apprehension how will the national team take the impact of Jugraj's absence when challenging the likes of Pakistan and Korea for the Asia Cup — the winner of which gets a berth confirmed for the next World Cup in Germany in 2006.

Projected as the trump card in the conversion of penalty corner exercise after achieving a reasonable amount of success in this area, Jugraj's inability is undoubtedly a major factor to contend with.

Beyond a level, this aspect should never be rubbed in as to cause a negative feeling into the rest of the squad. Even a cursory glance would go to prove that India has scored several goals through exemplary forward movements involving Gagan Ajit Singh, Prabhjot Singh and Deepak Thakur. The quality and content of the displays of this trio, and not to speak of the constructive work in these by Baljit Singh Dhillon and the inimitable stylist, Dhanraj Pillay, were there for all to see when India thrashed Pakistan 7-4.

Coach Rajinder Singh also exhibited the alternative approach if and when Jugraj was not available or guarded well by the defence. Dilip Tirkey has a very high percentage of conversion in the recent tours of Australia and Germany. Even Kanwalpreet Singh and Baljit Singh Dhillon showed their competence in taking penalty corners impeccably.

So, when the team embarks on a major mission as the Asia Cup, which, interestingly, it has never won since inception in 1981, what needs to be stressed are the positive aspects, areas that constitute strength than on likely weaknesses, one of which is the absence of Jugraj Singh. At the first instance, the team looks well balanced, with the induction of Sandeep Micheal and Dinesh Naik strengthening the attack and defence respectively.

The return of Dinesh Naik, after the Busan Asiad, only confirms the lack of alternative for the chief coach in the crucial area of deep defence where the team fumbles in the final quarter, match after match. A tackler as tough as Dinesh Naik is the only answer to this nagging question. Along with Dilip Tirkey and Kanwalpreet Singh, Dinesh definitely enhances the solidity of the defence. But how much will the coach rely on this deep defender remains in the realm of doubt. There were occasions when it was clear to many that Rajinder Singh was transparently disinclined to using Dinesh Naik even when the situation demanded.

It was indeed a pity that Sandeep Micheal had to miss the Champions Trophy after the tour of Australia. He also suffered from want of opportunities, and whenever he was inducted into the field of play, Sandeep did his bit gallantly. The manner in which he struck those two goals against Australia B at Sydney underscored the depth of his ability and proficiency. That the selectors were not tempted to experiment too much after the disappointing Champions Trophy amidst the welter of expectations is indeed welcome, though a shuffle of the frontline minus Tejbir Singh could have been in order with Sameer Dad coming in as the substitute.

There is no clue as to the recovery made by the injured Baljit Singh Saini and Ignace Tirkey during the Champions Trophy. Sidelining Vinay without giving him a fair trial but retaining the unknown Didar Singh clearly underlines an illogical, whimsical approach, which has brought little cheer to the nation in important competitions.

It must be made clear to everyone in authority, including the chief coach, Rajinder Singh, that India has not won a major event for years. A victory here and there in nondescript events may be trumpeted enough to secure a major sponsor and an exaggerated coverage in the media, but a dispassionate, unsentimental analysis will clearly testify the fact that the best of talent has been left to languish in the quagmire of majoritarian regionalism. If a forceful case can be made by Rajinder Singh for getting back Baljit Dhillon and Baljit Saini, an equally convincing argument can also be proffered for giving a call to Lazarus Barla, Mohammad Riaz, Thirumalvalavan, Sameer Dad and Arjun Halappa.

Luck has a tendency to desert at crucial moments and without a sign of warning. And when it does so, coach Rajinder Singh must remember that he will be the first to face its indisputable impact, which cannot be anything but be adverse. And hockey history in this country is replete with examples, which need not be repeated here.

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