By a sports correspondent
The hopes were arisen again but the final verdict seems to have poured cold water on the warming cockles of Indian hockey hearts.
It was yet another Indo-Pak final in the third Asia Cup Hockey tournament. Delhi’s Shivaji Stadium was packed to capacity and an air of expectancy could be sensed all around, it was 22nd minute of the second half, India, 0-1 down, had been awarded a penalty stroke. Hearts fluttered, Sujit Kumar and Pakistani goalmouth was all that everyone saw in those moments. A deafening roar of overjoyed spectators was heard as the ball came out of the goalmouth. But it was soon replaced by total silence as it was the Pakistani players jumping with joy instead of their rivals-the ball had only struck the goalpost! Six minutes later, Arif Bhopali put the final stamp on Pakistan’s, 2-0, victory.
India had a dreamlike march into the final. In the league matches, they had trounced Bangladesh 6-0, outclassed S. Korea 5-0, and whipped China 1-0. Japan was swept aside, 3-0, in the semi- final. To the 15 goals scored by India before the final, not a single goal had been conceded. It was something unbelievable. One could almost feel the sensation of Indian hockey coming out of the shadows of its nightmarish experiences into the world of sunshine hockey. Pakistan’s victory in the final shattered all dreams of a glorious dawn for Indian hockey at the beginning of a new decade.
It is right that one learns from one’s mistakes, but our hockey doesn’t fit into this parameter. Long sustained coaching in the coaching camps, it seems, is only reinforcing the feeling of lack of confidence among the players rather than being helpful in smoothening the rough edges in their game. The forwards still blunder in front of the goalmouth, trapping is still far from being perfect, effective combination between half line and forwards and even among the forwards remains a farfetched dream.
If one has to analyze India’s poor showing in the final match as compared to their display in the earlier matches, one added factor strikes the mind-that is, the psychological pressure of playing in front of the vociferously partisan home crowd and against a rival, losing to whom is considered a national disgrace. This pressure was certainly felt greatly by the two newcomers-Dhanraj Pillai and Edgar. Their nervy display didn’t help the forward line to strike a good combination. R.P. Singh looked brilliant but he was brought in rather later in the second -half on the right wing.
Jagbir Singh’s opportunism and brilliance in tapping home the crosses from the wingers was also missed in the frontline, as he was ruled out due to a finger injury. Balwinder Singh was just too individualistic in his goal-ward maneuvers to be effective. The wingers, Thoiba Singh and R.P. Singh (though brought in the later stages), exhibited some penetrative abilities with their speedy runs down the flanks. But heir crosses in the striking circle went a begging for lack of understanding among the inner forwards. The defense was generally sound but the two goals that Pakistan scored were both the result of defensive lapses.
The half-line was certainly a sore point. The half-backs were rather defensive in their approach while they are expected to maintain a balance between attack and defense Vivek Singh, manning the key position of centre half, looked totally off color. Does anybody remember Rajinder Singh (Jr), the centre half, who was banned for five years during that famous incident in the final of the previous Asia Cup at Dhaka? Perhaps, this versatile player needs a second look by the selectors.
And yes, our recent hockey teams have been charterised by a lack of consistency and fluctuations in form. In the earlier matches against South Korea and Japan, the team had looked capable and efficient. With the first time passing of the ball, quick counterattacks and conversion of many penalty corners into goals, it had looked a formidable combination. But their inexplicably listless display in the final match blackwashed their good work in these matches, The same thing had happened during Champions Trophy earlier in the year, when they had started off well by beating West Germany, but couldn’t sustain the momentum and of victory in the later matches and finished at the bottom. This inconsistency will get them nowhere on the international circuit.
The decade of the ‘80s has ended with no silver lining in the dark clouds of debacles for Indian hockey. Except for a gold medal in the 1980 Moscow Olympics, India couldn’t win any other international tournament of repute. In fact, it touched its nadir in 1986 World Cup at London by finishing last among the 12 participating countries! Controversies and infighting in the Indian Hockey Federation (THF) have often stolen the focus and discussion away from what was happening on the hockey field. Coaches and players have been most vulnerable in these circumstances. Players lack in initiative because they are afraid of making mistakes for fear of being kicked out of the team. This fear psychosis is paralyzing Indian hockey. Only a confidence, arising out of a feeling of security and support, can bring about a revival in the fortunes of Indian hockey.
The present team on the whole is no worse than the outfits of recent years. The need is for confident persistence with these players, providing greater international exposure and inculcating confidence in these players. The World Cup a Lahore is just around the comer. Before that our team has a chance to redeem and reorganize itself in the Indira Gandhi Gold Cup tournament.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 26, 1990
