HYDERABAD: Dilip Tirkey, `The Wall' of Indian hockey, is in no mood to be breached by the best of forwards at the World Cup in Germany. He feels that the current Indian team is high on confidence and should realistically aim for a berth in the last four.

Speaking to The Hindu on the conclusion of the 10-day camp at the Gachibowli Complex here on Thursday, Tirkey, who has played in no less than 363 internationals including two World Cups, said the emphasis on communication skills by chief coach V. Baskaran seemed to have had the desired effect on the players.

Best part

"The best part of the camp here was that the players were thinking only about their game, on how to put up an improved performance, and not giving any thought to the pressures of a World Cup," he said. "The team is ready to face the World Cup challenge."

The Indian captain also stressed that for the first time in recent memory the team recorded the best-ever conversion rate of 67 per cent in short-corners.

"We believe that Sandeep Singh has come up well. We will definitely go in for variations but fortunately, this key area, which has been of great concern over the years, is now well settled in the hands of Sandeep Singh," he added.

Tirkey felt that the team was mentally and physically much stronger now than it had been in recent times.

"The fitness schedules of Australian Derek Knox worked wonders in the last one month," said Tirkey. "Now, we have to mainly play to our strengths and try to reduce mistakes. The spirit of the entire team as an unit is something which I have rarely seen."

"Baskaran sir's simple but effective training sessions should hold the team in good stead," Tirkey remarked. "The forward line seems to have lot of fire and the return of Gagan Ajit Singh after a dismal phase should be a key factor. He is a natural player and I don't think he will be under any pressure now on his comeback trail," added Tirkey.

Natural game

"All the players are being given the freedom to play their natural game but at the same time they have been told not to concede too many soft goals," he explained.

"The midfield could be instrumental in scripting a new chapter in this World Cup. It is so well set. Moreover the defence is in safe hands and so the forwards should have the liberty to attack consistently," he said.

"We will take it match by match as the coach has asserted in the camp. I hope that I will be lucky third time around," he said with a big smile.

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