The Indian males’s hockey group chief coach Craig Fulton high-fived the workers and smiled. The group had scored an excellent, seven-touch objective towards world champions Germany within the FIH Pro League on June 1. The South African although wasn’t beaming on Sunday as Harmanpreet Singh and Co squandered a 2-1 lead and misplaced to hosts Great Britain 3-2 in London.
It’s been that form of a Pro League season for India. Sensational in patches, off-colour in blocks with nervy endings, making a gift of objectives, and at occasions video games. Five wins and losses every, three shootout wins and as many defeats sum up India’s present within the nine-team match that has largely develop into a observe floor for many groups as they put together for the Olympics.
Still, the elite occasion offers coaches a good thought of the place their groups stand towards the world’s finest. Wins towards Germany, Argentina, Spain and Ireland give India hope for Paris however losses towards the world’s finest – Australia, Olympic champions Belgium and Great Britain – has given Fulton loads to brood over.
“Like all teams, India is going through the process of Olympic selection. That always slows down performance. I don’t think we have seen the very best India can be. They are probably playing at 80% of their capacity at the moment. As we get closer to the Olympics, some of the strengths like penalty corners (PC) and counterattacks will come into play a bit more,” Shane McLeod, who guided Belgium to gold on the 2018 World Cup and 2021 Tokyo Olympics, mentioned from Antwerp.
Barring the 1-7 debacle towards Australia, consistency was key for India at Tokyo as they clinched an Olympic medal – bronze – after 41 years. That steadiness is absent in the mean time. Besides, India’s performances in away video games had been under par in comparison with their present at dwelling. The situations in Paris might be much like these in Antwerp and London the place India performed the final two legs of the league.
India leaked objectives, particularly at essential junctures, making a gift of 35 objectives in 16 matches. During penalty nook (PC) defence, Amit Rohidas and Manpreet Singh gave it their all as first rushers, however opposition groups nonetheless discovered methods to get by means of the defence a number of occasions, particularly within the dying moments of the match, an Achilles heel for India.
“They have taken quite a few goals. But I don’t think it’ll happen at the Olympics. They will tighten up. Some of it was personnel driven while some of it was trying to put the team together. It is going to be a focus area for India,” added McLeod, who’s now a guide with Belgium.
“PC defence can also be tightened up. They are still taking some goals. First running has improved quite a bit, so it is more difficult to get around the first runner. But they will be hoping to have a perfect battery for defending corners by the time the Games come about.”
With 12 objectives, skipper and drag-flicker Harmanpreet was India’s prime scorer for the third season on the trot. But the second PC battery comprising Jugraj Singh, Sanjay and Rohidas hasn’t fired a lot. That doesn’t appear to be a fear for the specialists.
“Belgium have Tom Boon and Loick Luypaert too, but it is always Alexander Hendrickx who is doing the trick. He is taking 90% of the flicks. You just have to adjust. That is what Olympic champions Belgium do at the top of the D,” former India coach Sjoerd Marijne mentioned from Den Bosch, Netherlands.
“Harmanpreet is a world-class drag-flicker. One of their keys to success would be to make sure India get enough PCs so that he is not under pressure each time he flicks. If they get 1-2 every game, it’s really hard but if they’re getting 5-6 you’re almost guaranteed he will get 1-2 of those, on a good day even three.”
One of the optimistic indicators for India although was the brilliance of the forwards – Olympic bronze medallists Mandeep Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Gurjant Singh, and newcomer Abhishek. Their particular person ability resulted in lots of objectives, lessening the impression of the dearth of a powerful second PC battery.
“Mandeep up entrance is a world-class participant. He is all the time harmful, build up very nice connections with different gamers. Sukhjeet and Abhishek additionally confirmed actual expertise and talent. They are certainly going to be gamers for the long run in the event that they don’t make the Olympic choice,” added McLeod.
With lower than 50 days left, Fulton has lots of fine-tuning to do earlier than India open their Games marketing campaign towards New Zealand on the Stade Yves-du-Manoir on July 27.
Source: www.hindustantimes.com
