IHF to seek SAI approval for LTDP

By Our Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI, MAY 23. The Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) will seek approval for its four- year Long Term Development Plan (LTDP), from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) at a meeting here on May 30. The plan will later be forwarded to the Union Ministry of Sports for its consent.

The plan, drawn up by the chief coach of the Indian hockey team, Cedric D'Souza, in consultation with SAI's training method expert, Dr. Oleksandr K. Krasilshehikov, and trainer Saju Joseph, includes details about the training and competition schedule for the senior and the junior teams till August 2004.

In order to prepare for important assignments including the Asian Games in Pusan, the Commonwealth Games in Manchester and the World Cup in Kuala Lumpur, all next year, and the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, an elaborate programme has been planned. Importantly, the plan leaves the options open for the selection and training of the juniors.

The seniors have been divided into two groups for the coming assignments. These groups include 20 junior players as well.

Necessary alterations have been made in the training programme to make sure that the juniors are not overburdened.

Apart from the training camps in the country and abroad, the plan has proposed international tournaments abroad for exposure and reciprocal invitations to foreign teams to tour India.

A detailed team management structure has also been finalised. This comprises the chief coach, two assistant coaches, a doctor, two physiotherapists, a psychologist, a video technician, a trainer and a team manager for the seniors.

In all, a 34-member management team has been recommended, combining the senior and junior (under-21, under-17 and under-14) sides.

Speaking to The Hindu here on Tuesday, the IHF secretary-general, Mr. K. Jothikumaran, sounded optimistic about the approval of the proposed schedule and other material support that is being sought from the SAI and the Union Sports Ministry.

``We have been preparing three sides simultaneously. But we need some extra support in terms of advanced training equipment as well as the technical people. This will enable us to improve further,'' he said.

The equipment requirements that D'Souza has listed in the plan includes a video camera, a multimedia projector unit, a VCR, walkie-talkies, and computer software for instant replays from the video cameras, among other devices for the scientific aid.

For the ground aid (only for the senior side), the plan has listed ball throwing machines, rebound nets and boards, various kinds of balls along with the latest playing equipment for the players.

The schedule has a systematic break-up for the competitions, training and rest. As had been done in the recent camps, there will be a regular check up on the physical, medical, psychological and bio-chemical aspects of the trainees. The programme includes instructions such as regeneration runs and fitness workouts to be followed during the rest period.

About the training camps on foreign soil, Mr. Jothikuamaran said, ``We may go for a camp in Milton Keynes in July this year.''

Apart from 10 to 14 days camp, there are suggestions for competitions, either a Test series or participation in tournaments, twice for the senior side and once each for all the junior categories to round off such foreign stints.

Apart from the camp-cum-exposure scheme, the plan has also suggested taking part in four other international tournaments for the senior side, two for the under-21 and under- 17 teams and one for the under-14 boys every year up to 2004.

The duration of the camps in the country, prior to such events, will be shorter for the seniors (15 to 21 days), while for the juniors, it would be a month-long preparation.

For the period up to March next year, the plan envisages that the senior players would train for about 140 days apart from participating in important tournaments such as the World Cup qualifier in July this year, the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia, in August, and the World Cup in Kuala Lumpur in February-March next year.

Also on the agenda is the yet-to-be-confirmed three- nation tournament along with Pakistan and Australia in Dubai, in January next.

The series next month includes Test matches against Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand. In July, the side will train in two different camps and is expected to play Test matches against France, Spain and England.

Even before the hectic schedule next year which has three major assignments in succession-the Commonwealth Games, scheduled for July-August next year, the Azlan Shah Cup and the Champions Trophy (in Milton Keynes) or the Champions Challenge (in Harare)- a similar plan like the one for 2001 has been drawn up.

For the juniors, who will compete in the Youth (under- 18) Asia Cup in Ipoh from June 1, the itinerary has the junior (under-21) open Challenge Cup in Poznan, Poland in August, under- 21 men's tournament in Holland in August-September, five-nation junior invitation tournament in Kuala Lumpur, all before the junior World Cup in Hobart in October this year.

The juniors, too, will have a detailed training programme before every tournament. Before the World Cup, the proposed camps in October include Jalandhar or Ludhiana or Chandigarh as the venue for preparation.

From next year, a European tour and series against Australia, Korea, Malaysia and New Zealand, is also on the agenda.

For the youngest lot (under-14), this year there may be an arrangement for a camp in Australia followed by matches against the Australian Institute of Sports youth teams.

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