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Indian eye: hockey
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Gavaskar hits out at BCCI
Gavaskar entitled to his opinion: Shukla
Srinivasan to discuss ‘twin debacle’ with Fletcher
BCCI clears domestic overhaul
Kapil likely to apply for BCCI amnesty
Federer breaks Sampras’ record
Gauti plays down captaincy issue Fedrigo wins 15th stage at Tour de France
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After missing the Beijing Games, Indian hockey has a chance to find its place at the global stage
Seeking the Olympic redemption M.S. Unnikrishnan
As the Indian hockey team, eight-time Olympic champions, and rank outsiders off late, seek redemption at the London Olympics, India will once again wait. A billion people will once again look for magic on the field, the ball sounding the back of the post, and hope that the team that walk onto the field as players, walk off it as champions. No logic, no reasoning, but this is not the normal world. Welcome to the 'wonderland' that Indian hockey has turned into. It might be unrealistic to expect the team to finish high at London, though legions of fans across the country and from the diaspora expect them to win a medal — which is completely unrealistic. A year ago, when former Australian international Michael Nobbs replaced Jose Brasa of Spain as the chief national coach, he had inherited a fractured team, beset with dissensions and revolt. Though Brasa had done much to elevate the standard of the game in the short span he was with the team, which included the 2010 World Cup in Delhi, and podium finishes in the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games, player-power had assumed threatening proportions, and the existence of two hockey bodies — Hockey India and the Indian Hockey Federation — only emboldened the players to assert their rights, and wangle more cash and other facilities for themselves.
This vitiated the discipline in the team, and Brasa had to pay with his job for espousing the cause of the players when he locked horns with his employers, Hockey India and the Sports Authority of India. The launch of the World Series Hockey (WSH), modelled on the pattern of the cash-rich IPL, weaned away many good players from the national team, including former captain Rajpal Singh. Nobbs took charge of the team at a difficult time, and he was not even sure that the bunch of players put in his charge was capable of taking India past the Olympic qualification hurdle. After a series of camps, he identified the core of the players who would be the backbone for the Olympic qualifiers, and then the Olympics. But the only catch was that some of them were contracted to play for the cash-rich WSH, which Nobbs felt would divide their loyalty, and which in turn would hamper their preparation for the Olympics. He gave them the choice of playing for themselves, or for the country, and many opted to play for the country, the sensible options. Hockey India also pitched in, offering them many cash and other incentives. Thus, finally, Nobbs had the team under his full command. From then on, his focus was on shaping them into a battle-fit combination for the tougher campaigns ahead. Nobbs brought in many changes, including in the playing format, bringing back the attacking ways of the Indian team by exploiting their natural ability to run fast — the hallmark of Indian and Asian hockey. Being tutored in the Australian way of hockey, Nobbs knows too well that only sustained attacks and a rock-solid defence can stand the test of trials against top-ranked teams. That his strategy worked wonders was evident at the Olympic qualifiers in Delhi in February, when the hosts gave a stand-out performance, which culminated in them giving an 8-1 lashing to France to make the Olympics cut, after sitting out the Beijing Games. The Olympic qualifiers also brought out the best in drag-flicker Sandeep Singh, mid-field marshal Sardar Singh and forward S.V. Sunil and goal-keeper P.R.Sreejesh. Though Nobbs felt that India could have done well with a lot more exposure matches against top teams, he still managed to get many outings to fine-tune the team for the big battle ahead in London, where his aim would be to make the team play as well as they are capable of. Though Nobbs has declared that India will not be in London to make up the numbers, he understands that winning a medal will be a tough task. So, for the present, his aim would be to put the team among the top six. But even that would be a tough call, as India have been clubbed in Pool B comprising Olympic champions Germany, Korea, New Zealand, Belgium and the Netherlands. Nobbs has often said that any team who make up the 12 in the Olympics can beat any other team. But realistically, it would be a great achievement if India grab a top-six position. India, of course, last won a medal at the boycott-hit Moscow 1980. India came close to making the semifinal cut in Sydney-2000, but hit the nadir when the country failed to qualify for the Olympics for the first time, in 2008. One worrying factor for Nobbs is that in the recent matches, including the Azlan Shah Cup, where India finished third, the team failed to cash in on scoring chances. The attacks, though penetrative, have not fetched many penalty-corners either. That’s worrying as India's chances of victory greatly hinge on their two world-class exponents of the drag-flick — Sandeep and V.R.Raghunath. Nobbs has opted for goalkeeper Bharat Chhetri as the captain on the premise that with two goal-keepers in the team, he will be able to field a custodian who does well in a particular situation. Will London bring a turn-around for Indian hockey? Wait and watch.
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Number of competitors The men's events begin on July 30 and end on August 12. The women's competition runs from July 29 to August 10. Indian Angle The Indian women have not qualified. Format In the knockout matches, ties are resolved by extra time (two 7½-minute periods), with a golden goal — the first goal scored — deciding the match. If the match is still tied, a tie-breaker decides the match, with five attempts by each team. Favourites There has been hype around the Indian team's qualification but, for the record, India are ranked No. 10 in the world.
Titbits With eight gold, India still lead the all-time winners' tally ahead of Netherlands and Australia (four each) In 1932, when a journalist approached Mahatma Gandhi to issue an appeal to the masses to raise money to send the Indian team to Los Angeles, he asked: "What is hockey?" The legendary Dhyan Chand scored 38 goals in the three Olympic Games he participated in,
1928-1936
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Gavaskar hits out at BCCI
New Delhi, July 16
England are scheduled to arrive in India for a four-match Test series followed by two Twenty20 Internationals before going home on Christmas. They would be back to play five One-day Internationals, scheduled to take place from January 11. "Well, my first reaction is that the time the players have between the England series, it is not going to be there. They are playing England in November-December but now they are not going to get the breather," Gavaskar told 'NDTV'. "Players need the time to look after their injuries and get better," he added. Meanwhile, former Pakistan player, Zaheer Abbas expressed happiness at the resumption of ties, saying that it will be good for the Indo-Pak relationship. "The best remedy is to play. At least the country will be busy watching cricket. It will be good for cricket and Indo-Pak relationship. Both the countries should be playing cricket every year. It is a very good sign," said Abbas. "People in Pakistan are very happy. India are becoming a great power in cricket. Playing with India we can improve our cricket also," he said. Another former captain Bishan Singh Bedi, however, welcomed the proposed series and said that it was a step in the right direction. "It will be interesting Pakistan is playing their home series in India. It will mean a lot in the two nations. And the amount of interest and the goodwill it will generate will be huge. Lots of positives will come out of it and it is a step in the right direction," Bedi said. "I am not interested much in a Pakistan team being invited in the Champions League Twenty20. I am more interested in the two countries playing against each other," he added. Bedi felt that the Indian cricketers could be a tiring lot against Pakistan as they were also to play against Australia and England before the Indo-Pak series. "India-Pakistan matches are much more intense than Australia playing England. My only apprehension is that the Indian boys may be a bit taxing. England and Australia are coming and to take out another series, though short, against arch-rivals Pakistan could be taxing on the Indian players," said the spin great. — PTI
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Gavaskar entitled to his opinion: Shukla
New Delhi, July 16 "I don't want to react to individual opinion. Everyone is entitled to have one," said Shukla in response to Gavaskar's reservations about having the Indo-Pak series post 26/11, especially when there was "no cooperation" from Pakistan in the Mumbai terror attacks probe. Gavaskar had earlier in the day said: "Being a Mumbaikar I feel what is the urgency when there is no cooperation from the other side." The bilateral cricketing ties had been snapped after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and there have been several attempts by the Pakistan Cricket Board in recent months to convince the BCCI to resume it. Asked about the BJP, Shiv Sena constant protests over resuming any sporting ties with Pakistan, Shukla said, "The leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley, was a part of this decision and he supported the move.” “You can raise issues but the public has always wanted to watch India and Pakistan play. The relationship between the BCCI and the PCB has also been cordial, irrespective of the political situation,” he added. — PTI
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Srinivasan to discuss ‘twin debacle’ with Fletcher
New Delhi, July 16 "The president will be meeting Fletcher tomorrow before the team leaves for Sri Lanka. The 0-8 debacle would certainly come up for discussion and president would like to know what went wrong and the corrective measures that needs to be taken in such situation," a senior Working committee member said. — PTI |
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New Delhi, July 16 The top three teams from Group A, B and C will qualify for the knockout stage. The inter-state tournament for the under-22s will be referred to as the 'A' teams tournament, and will feature cricketers in the under-25 age-group. It was also decided that the India 'A' team will tour New Zealand in September-October. The Board also allowed Chhattisgarh to participate in the under-16 inter-state tournament (Plate Group). Besides, the NKP Salve Challenger Trophy will feature the winners of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and two teams would be picked by the All-India Senior Selection Committee. The technical committee headed by Sourav Ganguly and the special committee comprising of another former captain Anil Kumble, among others, had recommended some sweeping changes in the domestic cricket structure on June 12. — PTI
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Kapil likely to apply for BCCI amnesty
New Delhi, July 16 It is learnt that BCCI president N Srinivasan has taken personal initiative in bringing the 1983 World Cup winning captain back in the BCCI fold. Kapil has finally relented on applying for amnesty after "fruitful discussions with the BCCI president." "Although this was not on the agenda, the president (Srinivasan) informed the members that there has been fruitful discussions with Kapil Dev and the latter has agreed to seek amnesty. The formalities will be worked out soon," a senior working committee member preferring anonymity said. — PTI |
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Federer breaks Sampras’ record
It was the 30-year-old Swiss's seventh title at the All England Club and ensured he would equal and then pass Pete Sampras's record of 286 weeks at the top of the rankings. "I am extremely proud and honoured to have beaten Pete's record as he was my childhood hero and I have always looked up to him," said Federer, who first topped the rankings in February 2004. "I had set a goal with my team to try and get back to the top of the rankings, but I never thought with the depth in the game this year that I would have been able to get it back so quickly." Sampras won 14 grand slam titles in a 14-year tour career. "The hardest thing to do in sports is the ability to stay on top," the American said. "Roger has been able to do so by great play and durability." — Reuters
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Gauti plays down captaincy issue
"I am not bothered about my designation in the team. My job is to play to my potential as a professional and do well for my country and my team," Gambhir told reporters here, after the first day of the training-camp ahead of the Sri Lankan tour. Rising star of the Indian team Virat Kohli had replaced Gambir as the vice-captain of the side for Asia Cup in Bangaldesh last March and continues to be deputy to Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Gambhir, like his statemate Virender Sehwag, said that a team's success was not confined to just leadership of a captain. The left-handed opener emphasised that success of team even goes beyond the performance of the players. "I have always maintained that a captain is as good as his team. The credit of success goes to everyone in the team and not the captain alone. Not only the 23 players but all the support staff and management staff of the team," he said. Gambhir said the team need to do well against Sri Lanka to set the tone for the season, in which they are slated to play formidable England and Australia. "It is a fresh series of a fresh season and it is important that we need to be totally professional in our approach to gain the momentum and take it forward in our next series against England and Australia. "We have talented players in our dressing room and we need to play to our potential to gain good results. Sri Lanka is a very formidable side in their own backyard," he said. The Delhi player said he is focussing to do well in the ODI series against the Lankans as it will prepare him for more challenges ahead. "Series against Sri Lanka is very important for us. As I said they are very formidable side, especially after they having played a tough series against Pakistan. "As we play in all three forms of cricket, the coming series is important to us. I can take forward my success to Test series against England and Australia. We can take the momentum forward," he said. Gambhir said the side was not targetting any specicfic players when it will take field against Sri Lanka but would focus on executing overall plans. "It does not matter how often you play against known players. It is important as to how you succeed with your on-field plans. Whether we are familiar with the players or conditions, we need to deliver," he said. Asked about the resumption of cricket ties with Pakistan, Gambhir said playing Pakistan was no different from playing any other nation. — PTI
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Fedrigo wins 15th stage at Tour de France
Pau, July 16 Fedrigo, who won in Pau two years ago, claimed his fourth Tour stage victory by beating American Christian Vande Velde at the end of a long-range breakaway. France's Thomas Voeckler, who won the 10th stage, was third, 12 seconds behind. Thibaut Pinot and Pierre Rolland won the eighth and 11th stages respectively. "There are days when you feel something can happen," said Fedrigo, whose 2011 season was almost wiped out because of a virus. Tuesday is a rest day before the peloton tackle the last two mountain stages in the Pyrenees. — Reuters |
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In a normal world, unrealistic expectations would not exist. In a normal world, practicality and sentiments would never cross paths. In a normal world… there would be no scope for the abnormal. There would be no scope for a story of a nation that dominated world hockey for decades, and then went into a shell, never to emerge.
"Being a Mumbaikar I feel what is the urgency when there is no co-operation from the other side," said Gavaskar. Gavaskar also felt that India are playing a lot of cricket in the upcoming season and any other series would only put pressure on the criketers.
After granting amnesty to Kiran More, the BCCI in all likelihood will soon be granting amnesty to Kapil Dev and welcome him back in the official fold as the former Indian captain is all set to write to the cricket board on this issue.
London, July 16
Chennai, July 16