The Hindu : Sport : Japanese coach aims for bronze medal

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Thursday, Aug 30, 2007
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Sport

Japanese coach aims for bronze medal

K. Keerthivasan

CHENNAI: With a stop-watch in hand, Japanese team chief hockey coach Yasuda Zenjiro monitors his wards sprint around the YMCA College of Physical Education.

The players perspire after a few rounds around the synthetic turf, but the coach doesn’t relent as he asks them to get prepared for yet another round. Without a murmur, the players obey. In a way, it’s the team’s biggest strength and weakness — the ability to stick to a plan, no matter the situation.

For 61-year-old Zenjiro, a decent left-back in his heyday, who represented Japan in the 1968 Mexico Olympics, the Asia Cup hockey championship starting in Chennai on August 31, is a challenging assignment. Having taken over from Takahashi, Zenjiro realises the enormous task in his hands.

Speaking to The Hindu on Wednesday, he said, “We will be happy if we clinch a bronze medal. Korea, Pakistan and India are good teams.”

With the absence of midfielder Ozawa and forward Fukuda due to injuries, Japan’s striking prowess has been considerably weakened. The team, nevertheless, has 12 who have played in the Champions Challenge in Boom, Belgium where Japan finished fifth. Two senior players — skipper Takahiko Yamabori and Kenichi Katayama — with around 150 caps will hold the key for the team.

If the team has to achieve what the coach wanted — seems quite a tough task by any yardstick — these two should strike form.

Cautions the former India and present Tamil Nadu coach C.R. Kumar, “They play fast and spirited hockey. Let’s not underestimate them.”

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