NEW DELHI: Former Indian Captain. Ajitpal Singh expressed the hope that the new regularity rules, introduced by the International Hockey Federation (IHF) will not only make the game more attractive, but also help Indian Hockey.
Ajitpal Singh said he welcomed forbidding the chipping of the ball during the game.
“Chipping was ruining the beauty of the game and was leading to dangerous play.”
The former center half, who led India to the only victory in the World Cup in 1975 ‘was of the view that the hit-and-run game would give way to more artistic way of playing, “if the new rule is strictly adhered to.” He said the Europeans mostly indulged in chipping, which meant that most of the time the ball was either in the air or out of the field. “It also suited them as the ball could be chipped from one comer to another, with sturdy and physically fit players running to intercept or grab the ball, with not much of mid field play.
The soft spoken Ajitpal Singh, considered to be the one of the finest center half’s India has ever produced said, “Hockey is pleasing to watch only when it is played on the field with all its subtle nuances. It is losing its charm as most of the non-Asian teams were taking undue advantage of chipping.”
He said in the absence of any hard and fast rule to interpret chipping, the Europeans indulged in frequent chipping. One chipping by the defender, reduced the entire opposition attack to naught. Under the new rule, it will be difficult for the defender to get over the pressure of the opponents in such a manner.
I am sure it will be better for India I have hardly seen Indians indulge 10 chipping, as we play short passes.” The Indians will now be able to cover the field easily against the fast moving opponents, he said.
Ajitpal however, felt the rule which forbids the goalkeeper from lying down to stop a penalty comer shot was confusing. “The rule is not clear. There is no mention what penalty will be there if the goalkeeper still falls to stop the shot,” he wondered.
Aijitpal said FIH should issue a clarification on the rule as otherwise any infringement in the circle means penalty stroke.
He said that apart from this bit of clarification the new rule will see the rate of penalty comer conversion go up and again it should be of some help to the Indians.
“ feel that Europeans have better goalkeepers. Most of them are hefty and tall and by just lying down they cover the whole: ‘goal.
About allowing the goalkeeper to raise the stick above his shoulder for stopping the ball or a penalty stroke, Ajitpal said, “I feel itis good for goalkeepers as the ball moves very fast on the astroturf, and most of the time it lands in the goal with a rising shot.
“But I think it is some sort of discrimination as only two players (goalkeepers) in the field will enjoy this benefit while the other 20 are at a disadvantage” he said, adding that the rate of penalty comer conversion will go down considerably, Ajitpal said the teams will now have to look for other ways to score. Ajitpal, however admitted that too many ‘substitutions are bound to lead to holdups and waste of time, upsetting the rhythm of the game.
He said the substitution rules will help both Asian and European teams.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 19, 1989
