India lacked ‘self-belief in some areas’ in Rio Olympics, says Jagbir Singh

The Indian men’s hockey team left a trail of disappointment after failing to make the most of their opportunities and eventually bowing out in the quarter-finals of the 2016 Rio Olympics.

For hockey fans, the inability of the Indian team to seize the initiative when it mattered most, has caused much disappointment across the fraternity.

Former Indian captain and centre-forward Jagbir Singh believes the team appeared to lack the ‘winning belief’.

“I think the Indian team lacked self-belief that in some areas and this was apparent in all our matches in Rio. The team did not quite have the belief that they can beat a top side, though they prevailed over Argentina,” said the former India player.

Complacent against teams

Jagbir, who represented India at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and 1992 Barcelona Olympics, gave his take on India’s ‘truly forgettable’ 2-2 draw against Canada. “India looked complacent against Canada and paid a big price for it.”

“They probably thought that all teams had beaten Canada and it will be a stroll in the park for them, but no international game is won on a platter. If not for complacency, India would have beaten Canada comprehensively. It does not matter who we play in the quarterfinals, as for me Belgium or Spain are equally top sides,”

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Like many hockey fans, who are concerned over the Indian forward line, Jagbir says India need strikers and attackers, “India is in dire need of strikers than attackers. When I say we need strikers I mean we need guys, who are opportunistic inside the opposition striking circle and can turn half-chances into penalty corners.”

“Look at Belgium, they have the most number of players scoring goals in the Rio Olympics and that’s’ because they have guys who are good at converting half-chances or even sitters.”

Fresh legs needed

The former Indian forward says fresh legs would have to be introduced into the team for thir preparations for major events like the 2018 World Cup, 2018 Asian Games and 2018 Commonwealth Games.

“If we look at the big events of 2018, obviously we have to blood a lot of youngsters. More importantly, we need to identify good strikers as merely having attackers will not serve our purpose.”

He applauded India’s head coach Roelant Oltmans for his role in the Rio Olympics. “I thought he performed as a coach.”

Notwithstanding the eight-place finish in the Rio Olympics, Jagbir has high expectations from the Indian team. “This team have a lot of positives – I have lofty expectations from them in future,” he signs off.