It's time to fashion a fresh combination

By S. Thyagarajan

CHENNAI, DEC. 7. Long after that poignant moment when India tripped out of the Olympics in Sydney the pain lingers. The prospect of fashioning another hockey combination, as competent as the one that was fielded for Sydney-2000 is daunting indeed. But the inevitability of the exercise has to begin, and now.

To search for any other fora than a National championship, set to roll tomorrow at Jammu, for weighing the quality and quantity of available talent is bound to be termed as puerile. With a new format in place, and successfully held, there is optimism of a keen fare, after the weak teams have been weeded out. The 16 in the fray represent the essence of a large national pool. The reconstruction has to begin here.

It is indisputable that India was reckoned as medal hope at Sydney. The foreign coaches acknowledged that the team was the best of the four from Asia, but distinctly and tactically unlucky to miss the semifinal berth. There is a realisation even among the top brass of the International Hockey Federation (IHF) that India is indeed on the comeback trail. This is based on the excellent performances put in by the junior squads at the continental level and the under-21 outfit which finished runner- up at the last World Cup in Milton Keynes in 1998. India is the current Asian sub-junior champion and the runner-up to Korea in the continental championship.

All these prove the presence of talented material that need to be streamlined for future competitions. It is assumed that the IHF is not contemplating a total revamp like the one effected after the Bangkok Asiad triumph, but keen on strengthening the nucleus. This means replacing and re-organising some of the layers where gaps are glaring. One area where a change is not needed, ironically enough, is in goal-keeping. At this point, there cannot be a replacement, for Jude Menezes is at the peak of his career. To disturb Devesh Chauhan after having exposed him to the Olympics is not worth the effort.

The same argument holds good for deep defence. Tirkey and Barla along with Dinesh Nayak are not only young but have it in them to last for some more time. What needs to be looked at is the mid- field. Modern hockey leans heavily on the work of the half-line. Minus Sukhbir Singh Gill, it is difficult to visualise the tenure for the rest. Ramandeep Singh, Mohammad Riaz, Baljit Singh Saini and Thirumalvalavan all have to prove themselves again as physically fit and mentally motivated to continue. Happily, a handful of young and enthusiastic claimants are on the scene, having proved their proficiency in junior level competitions. The names of Bimal Lakra, Prabhodh Tirkey and Bipin Fernandez readily come to mind.

The experience gained by Deepak Thakur, Gagan Ajit Singh and Samir Dad, in the Olympics and earlier internationals during the last two years, makes framing the frontline a lot more easier assuming that the IHF will be averse to depending on the tested and tried, probably tired, players like Mukesh Kumar, Dhanraj Pillay and Baljit Singh Dhillon. This is one segment where fresh blood is more than welcome.

The prime target for India in the next year is to take the spot for the World Cup from the qualifier at Scotland in July. As the top seed in this competition, India has to live up to the status. Before reaching Edinburgh, the IHF must have a well-knit outfit, strong in every layer. It is in effecting this that the IHF should use the invitation cup tournament in Dhaka in March as the testing event. Bangladesh emerges as a new Asian spot on the continental map, willing to cash in on the newfound interest for the sport.

The six nation tournament with at least three European outfits is bound to attract a lot of attention, what with India and Pakistan having confirmed their participation. Malaysia will be the third country from Asia. Having won a spot in the World Cup qualifier, and with a German coach to assist, Bangladesh is more than keen to make an impact.

More than anything, the Jammu National for the Rangaswamy Cup not only opens a new chapter for IHF in this millennium but turns out to be a launching pad to fashioning a fresh combination and framing a realistic framework to tracking talent, spread across the country.

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