The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : ‘We could have done better’

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Tuesday, Feb 03, 2009
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‘We could have done better’

Vijay Lokapally

CHANDIGARH: The spark was evident on Sunday evening. Only it should not die. A bunch of players who have set out to gain identity in the world of hockey left the Sector 42 stadium here in a trance with a captivating contest that makes hockey a spectacle.

The Punjab Gold Cup hockey tournament is being seen as a platform to launch the Indian team’s campaign for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. ‘No place for history,” asserted coach Harendra Singh as he analysed the team’s 4-4 draw with The Netherlands.

A near-packed stadium was an indication of the game’s popularity in these parts of the country.

Hope for hockey

“There is hope for hockey,” reiterated an ever-optimistic former India defender Pargat Singh. And matches like the one on Sunday when India slammed home three goals in the span of four minutes go far in strengthening the efforts of some stalwarts.

What if India has not beaten The Netherlands even once in the past 12 years. It has been engaged in some stirring contests with the Dutch team. One such came in the Champions Trophy at Amstelveen in 2007 when India lost to The Netherlands 3-4.

“Last evening we played close to that form of Amstelveen. We could have done better,” said Harendra.

What brought about the transformation as India overcame a sluggish start to rattle a confident rival? “I have assured the boys that none of them would be under any pressure to perform. I have given them the security of their place in the team. I think it has worked to an extent,” observed the coach.

On the eve of the match against Germany, the team’s coach sounded assured even as there were concerns about goalkeeper Baljit Singh’s fitness.

Tuesday’s fixtures: The Netherlands vs New Zealand (4.30 p.m.), India vs Germany (6.30 p.m.).

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