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Given their superior ranking and the home advantage, the odds are with the Indian men as the FIH Olympic Qualifiers get underway at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium from tomorrow onwards. But the Gods must also be in their favour as they battle for a ticket to the London Olympiad after having missed the bus to Beijing four years ago, the only time they were MIA(Missing in action) since 1928.
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On the other hand, the Indian women will have to script another ‘Chak De’ moment to make the cut for only the second time ever, their first Olympic appearance coming at a result of a Western-boycott bonus at Moscow1980. The hosts are ranked behind favourites South Africa whom they beat en route to the Commonwealth Games gold at Manchester 2002 which inspired the Shahrukh Khan starrer.
The eight time men’s Olympic champions (world rankings 10th) have to contend with the likes of Canada (14th) led by PIO Ken Pereira, France (18th), Poland (19th), Italy (28th) and Singapore (41st). The women (13th) will face the stick from South Africa (12th), Italy (19th), Canada (20th), Ukraine (26th) and Poland (28th). Only the winners of the respective divisions will qualify for the Olympics from this event. The FIH will later host two other qualification tournaments at Dublin and Kakamigahara (Japan) for other contenders along similar lines. So this is the last chance for our lads and lasses – literally do or die in New Delhi!
This indeed is the litmus test for men’s coach Michael Nobbs after Jose Brasa failed to strike gold at the Guangzhou Asiad and book an automatic berth. On trial will also be the Australian’s much vaunted claim of having returned to the traditional sub-continental style of play married to Ozzie aggression This is in contrast to his Spanish predecessor who tried to infuse some European-style tactical formulations with limited success. Cohesion and fitness will be the key.
Nobbs’ high risk strategy of dropping seniors like Rajpal Singh (lack of fitness) and veteran playmaker Arjun Halappa and reposing his trust in several juniors will be put to the strictest scrutiny by the likes of Canada, France and Poland who are expected to play a defense oriented game and bank on the break.
A favourable draw means India can fine tune their act together against rank minnows Singapore (a late replacement for USA) and Italy before coming to the business end of tournament. Barring Singapore, the ‘men in blue’ have lost to all the other teams in the past, so nothing can be taken for granted. But with a robust home support to egg them on, India will hopefully be able to seize the momentum.
The biggest problem area for the Bharat Chetri-led side is the defence where Sandeep Singh’s lack of class is barely compensated by his competence in the drag flick department. Raghunath is a marginal improvement but the third defender Rupinderpal is a rookie. With such vulnerability among the ‘back benchers’, India will have to avoid conceding penalty corners in order not to invite the sucker punch.
The burden will therefore fall on the indefatigable Sardar Singh, the only world class player in our ranks, to bring stability to the rear (he was played as a central defender by Brasa in the 2010 World Cup) and well as prop up the attack. India will sorely miss the services of classy half-back Gurbaaz Singh (due to injury) who added thrust along the right flank. The other medios, Birendra Lakra and Ignace Tirkey, are experienced but workmanlike at best. The forwards are nippy but sans any proven match winner. The good thing is that the goal scoring record of the team has improved in recent times, the tallies recorded in the Champions Challenge being an encouraging sign.
The main stumbling block to our women’s progress will be South Africa, who having already qualified from the continent, have to prove their bonafides to their sports bosses again by winning this event. Led by 29-year-old Marsha Marescia, a FIH elite player selectee and with ace striker Pietie Coetzee coming out of retirement, the Proteas are brimming with the experience and ability of 10 Olympians in their midst.
Coach C R Kumar’s (he was associated with the men’s team earlier as assistant coach) girls have oodles of talent but lack power, speed and stamina, reasons why they have already remained on the fringes of the top division. The women, who finished only 5th in the 2010 Commonwealth Games at the same venue, will however not be under the same numbing pressure as the men to make the cut. Therein lies a sliver of hope!
MEN’S TEAM:
Goalkeepers: Bharat Chetri (Captain), P.R Sreejesh
Defenders: Sandeep Singh, V R Raghunath, Rupinderpal Singh
Midfielders: Sardar Singh (Vice- Captain), Manpreet Singh, Birendra Lakra, Ignace Tirkey, Kothajit Singh
Forwards: S V Sunil, Sarvanjit Singh, Shivendra Singh, Gurvinder Singh Chandi, Tushar Khandker, Danish Mujtaba, Yuvraj Walmiki, S K Uthappa
WOMEN’S TEAM
Goalkeepers: Yogita Bali, Savita
Defenders: Jaspreet Kaur, Joydeep Kaur, Subhadra Pradhan
Midfielders: P Sushila Chanu, Asunta Lakra (Captain), Kirandeep Kaur (Vice- Captain), Deepika, Ritu Rani, Mukta Prava Barla
Forwards: Poonam Rani, Vandana Kataria, Rani Rampal, Soundarya Yendala, Anuradha Devi, Rosaline Dung Dung, Jasjeet Kaur Handa
