The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : `Forwards need to work much harder'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 11, 2005

Sport

Sport - Hockey

`Forwards need to work much harder'

CHENNAI: Indian captain Gagan Ajit Singh said, "the forwards will need to work much harder" if India has to win its second match against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy. Disagreeing with the notion that there was lot of pressure on him since forward Prabhjot Singh was not playing to his potential, Gagan said, "there is no pressure on me. I tried my best."

Indian coach Rajinder Singh (Jr.) said, "we were a little bit slow in long passes, and made quite a few wrong passes." Rajinder also said thatTushar Kandekar, who sat out against Spain, would "most probably play" the next match.

Rajinder admitted, "we missed Dilip Tirkey and because of his absence our defence did not settle down."

Spain coach Maurits Hendriks said he was very happy to win the opening match. "It's always going to be tough playing India in home conditions. We know it will be difficult."

Hendriks also said the water (after the rain), "made the pitch tough and slow. Our players expended a lot of energy in the first 20 minutes, and hence were sapped of energy in the second. We definitely need to improve."

Earlier, Bernhard Peters, the German coach made his displeasure known about the first goal, which Australian Jamie Dwyer scored. "It was a mistake by the umpire." He also said, "our key players were injured, and others don't have enough experience." — Sports Reporter

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