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India looks set to defend title

— Photo: Mohammed Yousuf

AIMING HIGH: Indian players prepare for the junior Asia Cup on Thursday.

HYDERABAD: The stage is set for the sixth edition of the eight-nation junior Asia Cup hockey championship for men at the Gachibowli Complex here from Friday.

Chief coach A.K. Bansal is looking far beyond this event as far as India is concerned and not merely defending the title which it won in Karachi.

The mood is upbeat in the Indian camp. “Penalty-corner conversion, headed by drag-flicker Diwakar Ram, should be a major plus for us though the forwardline is a bit of concern to me,” pointed out Bansal.

He expected Pakistan and Korea to provide the biggest challenge to the host. Captain Gurbaz Singh said: “We are not short on confidence but it doesn’t mean that we will be complacent. We know the responsibility and are ready to face the challenge.”

Even as the focus veers around the two teams — Pakistan and India — the Koreans seem to be working quietly to stun the favourites.

Their coach Seok Kyo Shin served a warning saying that they can spring a surprise against India, even while conceding that India and Pakistan remain the most formidable teams.

The major motivational factor is the message that this Indian team can well be the nucleus for the 2012 Olympics in London.

“We are not just looking at this event alone. There is lot of planning going on right now to rebuild Indian hockey,” says Bansal. Amidst tight security, all the teams had a feel of the world-class venue.

The groupings: Pool A: India, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore. Pool B: Bangladesh, Korea, Oman and Pakistan.

Friday’s matches: Singapore vs Malaysia (2.30 p.m.); Pakistan vs Oman (3.00 p.m.); Bangladesh vs Korea (4. 30 p.m.) and Japan vs India (5.30 p.m.).

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