A case of so near, yet so far for Indian Hockey at the Hockey World League Final

Rupinder Pal (L) of India celebrate with team after score winning goal against Germay during the Hero Hockey World League Final, Ranking match at National Stadium on January 17, 2014 in New Delhi, India.

“Of all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are those that might have been.”

This memorable adage could be applied to India’s participation in the inaugural FIH Hero Hockey World League Final 2014, which concluded this past Saturday at the Major Dhyan Chand National stadium in New Delhi. In their last Pool A league match against Olympic and European champions Germany, India gave a spirited display and led 3-2 until two minutes before the final whistle.

Ironically, India’s best player and skipper Sardar Singh could not trap a stinging drive from a German player, and allowed 26-year-old German midfielder Thilo Stralkowski who trapped it and equalized with a prompt shot past Sreejesh. The match ended in a 3-3 draw, but if India had held on for two more minutes and won this encounter, they would have finished third in their group and avoided the rampaging Australia and instead played Argentina who ultimately finished last.

A victory in the quarter finals against Argentina was possible and Terry Walsh in his first assignment as India’s coach could have guided the team to the last four which would have been a memorable achievement. Playing the mighty Aussies was an uphill task for India. The Major Dhyan Chand stadium is a happy hunting ground for Australia; at this venue they won the 12th World Cup and the gold medal at the 19th Commonwealth Games in 2010.

Australia has always trounced India at this venue; in the 12th Hero Honda FIH Hockey World Cup (Men), India lost 1-5 to Australia in their group A league match. Months later in the Commonwealth Games, India lost 2-5 to the Aussies in their league encounter and were humiliated in the final 0-8 by the same opponents.

So when India took on Australia on 15 January in the quarter-finals of the inaugural Hero Hockey World League Final, the result seemed a foregone conclusion. Yet the 4,000 odd spectators who defied the cold in Delhi to witness this late night match rubbed their eyes in disbelief when India led 2-0 within the first 11 minutes of play, with an initial own goal from the Aussies and a second from Yuvraj Walmiki. It was a battle of two Australian coaches – Walsh for India against his legendary former teammate Ric Charlesworth.

Stung by this reversal, Australia increased the tempo of the match, attacked in waves, tackled ruthlessly and in a span of 10 minutes, scored three goals to lead 3-2 at half time. India crumbled in the second half and lost 2-7. Analysing the match, Walsh later said the difference was in physiology. He said the Australians with better physique, fitness, speed and stamina outran India. They pressed in midfield and India crumbled, as their ball retention declined and they conceded possession with inaccurate passes. The physical dominance of Australia is haunting India and that’s why a match against Argentina would not have been so daunting.

Commenting on the match, Charlesworth said Australia had been in such situations (trailing early in a match) and changed their approach play to dominate the match. He felt that India did not know how to play for a win, change their approach play and retain possession. This inconsistency in India’s approach play was evident in the classification match too against Belgium. India led 1-0 until the 68th minute, but then conceded two quick goals to lose 1-2 and finish sixth overall.

India played six matches in this new tournament, lost four, drew one and won once. Statistically it does not look impressive. However after the abyss of finishing 12th and last in the 2012 London Olympics, there is a glimmer of hope for Indian hockey. Despite finishing sixth in an eight team tournament, India gained crucial ranking points. Thus India improved their world ranking to No. 7 from No. 10. The last time they were ranked so high was eight years ago in 2006. Other glad tidings were that 18-year-old Mandeep Singh, who scored a fine hat-trick in the 5-4 win against Germany in a classification match, was chosen the Best Young Player of the FIH Hockey World League.

The German team was not well prepared due to the winter break and had played mostly indoor hockey before coming to Delhi. However, they had some outstanding players like skipper Oliver Korn, FIH Player of the Year 2013, defensive midfielder Tobias Hauke, Oskar Deecke and Benjamin Wess, so India’s victory was creditable.

India was sluggish in the opening matches which they lost 1-2 to England and 1-3 to New Zealand; performance levels in the remaining games improved. However under pressure, like in the quarter-final against Australia, Indian players tend to disintegrate and become inconsistent. The experienced Walsh though feels there are signs of hope. Dashing 24-year-old striker Walmiki, recalled to the national squad after over a year, and 23 year-old Dharamvir Singh impressed with their speed, dash and ability to quickly to move into gaps and create attacks. Winger S.V. Sunil is no Mukesh Kumar on the flanks, but he has the speed and showed a lot of improvement.

Yuvraj Walmiki (L) of India fight for ball with New Zealand player during the Hero Hockey World League Final at Dhyanchand National Stadium at Dhyan Chand National Stadium on January 11, 2014 in New Delhi.

The revelation though was precocious teenager Affan Yousuf. Making his international debut, the effervescent Yousuf was not overawed by his formidable opponents, and created openings with his speed and quick dribbling. He has good positional sense and his style of play is similar to Mohd Nayeem, a dashing centre-forward in the early 1980s. Nayeem, a protégé of veteran coach Hardayal Singh, excelled for the Indian junior team in the early 1980s. At times, Yousuf showed the impetuosity of youth and often conceded possession. However, Walsh feels he is a player who can be developed into a useful striker, and with better control can obtain penalty corners for India like Mohammed Shahid used to do with his mesmerizing dribbling in the 1980s.

But the Indian player of the tournament was daring goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh whose bravery and reflexes thwarted several attacks. Sreejesh was considered for Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament, but was pipped to the award by England’s lanky George Pinner. The 6 feet 4 inches tall Pinner celebrated his 27th birthday on 18 January helping England overcome Australia 2-1 in the bronze medal clash.

One major credit for the Indian team in this championship was that except for the rout by Australia they were not outplayed by any their opponents. There are still areas of weakness; greater consistency is urgently required in defence, midfield and attack. Ball retention and quick counter-attacks also need to be improved as well as intensity in midfield. Australian superstar Jamie Dwyer, who skipped this event but is here for the Hockey India League starting on January 25, said improvement is needed in fitness, trapping and accurate passing. Also quick inter-changing of positions with midfielders and occasionally defenders surging into attack is a facet of the game the Indians are not comfortable with, especially Kangujam Chinglensana, Kothajit Singh and M.B. Aiyappa. This aspect of modern hockey was brilliantly displayed by the ultimate winners Netherlands, especially Player of the Tournament Robbert Kemperman, Man of the Match in the final Constantijn Jonker, and former Dutch No. 4 tennis star turned hockey player Rogier Hofman.

There are areas of concern, but Walsh has done well with a squad which he trained for only 10 days. India also missed several stars due to injury, forwards Gurvinder Singh Chandi, Danish Mujtaba and Ramandeep Singh, and penalty corner expert Gurjinder Singh. When these players return, Walsh will have more talent at his disposal.

Patience is required for the resurrection of Indian hockey; a solitary victory against Germany is not a signifier of a new dawn. It is imperative that Hockey India retains faith in the Australian coach and gives him time. In the last four years the constant chopping and changing of coaches seems to have confused our players. Spanish coach Jose Brasa who left after the 2010 Asian Games had a different playing style with emphasis on tight defence and counter attacks. In contrast Australian Michael Nobbs who was with the Indian team till the 2012 London Olympics debacle focused on attacking hockey. It is essential that Walsh is given time to develop a new look Indian hockey team. The pragmatic Australian is not raising false hopes and candidly admits the team will only peak by the time of the 27th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, from 19 September to 4 October.

The Hockey World League concept has been successful. It is composed of four rounds and serves as a qualifier for both the Olympics and the World Cup and provides crucial ranking points. Its slogan ‘Make Your Mark’ has been successful as it has provided new opportunities to all National Associations. FIH President Leandro Negre was happy that the Czech Republic, Portugal, Fiji, Qatar, Ghana and Brazil organized their first ever FIH events. Over the last year and a half, it has proven to be the most inclusive hockey event in the world, with 62 teams from 45 National Associations (both men and women) having participated.

Overall the Hero Hockey World League Final in Delhi was well organized by Hockey India and received wide media coverage. However, except in matches involving India, spectators were less, probably due to the extreme cold in the capital and the stadium not having easy accessibility.