Indian men’s hockey team will face a tough opening match challenge from Ireland at the 2016 Rio Olympics. It is an open secret that the Irish are an improving side, who don’t get overawed by reputations. And taking them lightly surely will not be the right recipe for India.
Former Indian hockey captain Zafar Iqbal believes Ireland will be a tough side to beat first up. “Ireland are a tough outfit – at the 2015 Hockey World League Semifinal Round, they drew Great Britain 2-2 and only lost to Belgium 1-2 by a final minute goal. India will have to be at their best to overcome the Irish challenge,” the former forward makes his point.
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Zafar, who was part of the gold-winning 1980 Moscow Olympics team, feels that the Olympic stage will be the biggest test for India. “Olympics will be different from other tournaments. No team is going to give up without a fight – so every team will be a hurdle for India,” the two-time Olympian observes.
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Australia, Germany and the Netherlands may be touted as strong medal contenders, but Zafar picks Argentina as a strong medal contender. “Argentina can upset any side – they will going to Rio to win the gold medal – remember they are bronze medallist at the 2014 World Cup in The Hague,” he quips.
Zafar, who captained India in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, as well in three Champions Trophy tourneys in 1982, 1983 and 1985, did not want to read much into India winning two FIH medals – a runner-up finish at the Champions Trophy and a bronze medal at the 2015 Hockey World League Final Round in Raipur.
“India can take positives from these two tournaments but everything stops there. All teams are working hard to do well in the Rio Olympics and past performances count for nothing when India launch their Olympic campaign in Rio,” Zafar remarks.
The soft-spoken former striker, who made his senior international debut in the 1977 Test Series against the Netherlands at Nagpur, says the 2000 Sydney Olympics team had a great opportunity to bag a medal. “We were leading by a goal and with one minute forty seconds to go, Poland scored off a counter-attack.
“The Indian team had played really well in that Olympics and were looking good to bag a medal,” Zafar recalls.
