The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : Dhanraj to go to Athens after all

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Tuesday, Jul 20, 2004

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Sport - Hockey

Dhanraj to go to Athens after all

By S. Thyagarajan

CHENNAI, JULY 19. The Indian Hockey Federation at last managed to decide on the 16 players who will try to re-establish India as a major entity, at the Athens Olympics next month. After watching the much-improved team share honours with world champion Germany — a few reports indicated that India could have even won the game — the Olympic squad, to be led by the soft-spoken Dilip Tirkey, was finalised at Dusseldorf on Sunday.

Quite understandably, it was not an easy exercise to pick the 16 players for the Olympics instead of the 18 for all other competitions.

Form appears to have been the yardstick though the selectors have opted to blend experience with a positive youth content. Else, Dhanraj Pillay would not have been given the honour — after prolonged debates and controversies — of playing in his fourth Olympics (he made his debut in 1992 at Barcelona).

At 34, Dhanraj joins the illustrious company of Leslie Claudius and Udham Singh who have figured in four Olympic Games. Whether Dhanraj will make his exit after a fitting swansong at Athens is still not known.

Misgivings that surfaced after the disastrous outing at Amstelveen a fortnight ago gave way to optimism after the victory against Great Britain — never an easy outfit to beat — and nearly a win against Germany. However, there is no room for complacency as these results can be very deceptive on the eve of a major event like the Olympics.

Looking ahead

The induction of Harpal Singh, William Xalco, Sandeep Singh and Adam Sinclair, who did well in the Junior Asia Cup, strengthens the belief that the selectors were not only impressed by their form but also realised the need to preserve the growing talent base for the next World Cup, both junior and senior.

It is a courageous decision to keep out full-back Kanwalpreet Singh and midfielder Bimal Lakra after being dependent on them for over three years in major competitions. Fitness, or the lack of it, may have influenced this decision. While goalkeeper Devesh Chauhan retains his place, junior star Adrian D'Souza comes into the Olympic fold amidst high expectations. With the Dutch custodian Frank Leistra cast in the role of a coach now, the quality of work under the bar will see some improvement. This is vital given the hold put on the defenders rushing out and disturbing the striker in penalty corners.

Shaky defence

Dilip Tirkey is undoubtedly a seasoned campaigner. With youngsters Xalco and Harpal Singh in line, the captain has to put in a lot of extra work to keep the deep defence in shape. The inexperience in this area is definitely a cause for concern.

The midfield looks strong enough, notwithstanding the absence of a playmaker like Bimal Lakra.

The combination of Vikram Pillay, Viren Resquinha, Ignace Tirkey and Arjun Halappa, along with the penalty corner striker Sandeep Singh, forms the backbone of the team. If it works effectively both in aiding the defence and attack, there will be no cause for alarm.

Arjun Halappa is the utility player since he can also figure as a striker from the right flank. So is Ignace Tirkey, whose enterprise in moving into the thick of action with delightful body swerves has given the team several happy moments.

Barring newcomer Adam Sinclair, the frontline has enormous international exposure and experience; it is also sharp and skilful. Veterans Dhanraj Pillay and Baljit Singh Dhillon should serve the attack competently, helping the aggressive trio of Deepak Thakur, Gagan Ajit Singh and Prabhjot Singh to score as many goals as possible.

Except in patches, the three have not been in form almost throughout this year. The Olympics is an occasion where the three cannot afford to be either inconsistent or inaccurate.

Sinclair, the Coimbatore boy, is said to have impressed the selectors with his approach. Being an athlete — he was a junior National triple jump champion in 2001 — Sinclair is a powerful runner on the flanks. He is expected to be the surprise package in the frontline.

More than anything, the players should realise that they carry with them the hopes and aspirations of a nation thirsting to regain its glory in hockey.

No effort was spared by the administration to give the players what they wanted. Now it is up to the players to reciprocate and bring home a medal which has proved elusive for 24 years after the golden effort at Moscow in 1980.

The team: Goalkeepers: Devesh Chauhan and Adrian D'Souza; Full-backs: Dilip Tirkey (capt.), William Xalco and Harpal Singh; Midfielders: Vikram Pillay, Viren Resquinha, Sandeep Singh, Arjun Halappa and Ignace Tirkey; Forwards: Deepak Thakur, Dhanraj Pillay, Gagan Ajit Singh, Baljit Singh Dhillon, Prabhjot Singh and Adam Sinclair.

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