London will be tougher: Chetri

By Paritosh Pramanik
NAGPUR, Feb 27

THE celebrations continued till early morning. After a long wait of eight years, Indian hockey team is back in Olympic fold. The memories of Chile disaster four years ago where India failed to qualify for Beijing Olympics finally got wiped out on Sunday. Thus the extended celebrations.
The team celebrated their resounding 8-1 win over France but they all know that the road ahead is far tough. Indian captain and goal-keeper Bharat Chetri was aware of the task but said that the team was ready to work harder to face tougher teams.
Talking exclusively to ‘The Hitavada’ from New Delhi, Chetri said the team would work hard on fitness and look to iron out flaws.
Excerpts.
CELEBRATIONS AFTER THE WIN
“Personally the morning was bad. We celebrated till dawn. I still have a hangover (laughs). But that was necessary. For more than six months day in and day out we worked hard. We had no other agenda on our list. No parties, no spicy food. No outings. Nothing. Now that we have qualified and have a few days break, we can enjoy. It (the party) was necessary.
SUPPORT STAFF’S COMMENDABLE ROLE
“I would like to give the credit to entire team and specially the support staff. They worked hard behind the scene to make us match-fit for entire 70 minutes. Under coach Michael Nobbs they worked really hard. I would also like to thank Hockey India and Sports Ministry for providing us the best of facilities. Above all credit to the supporters who backed us all the way. It was because of them we gave 110 per cent on field.”
ONE-SIDED FINAL
“We were expecting an easy win (over France)...at least by six goals as we had defeated them in the league match (6-2). But an 8-1 margin was icing on the cake. We were confident that if we continue in the same rhythm we can beat them hands down. We did.”
TOUGHER ROAD AHEAD
“The Olympics would be much tougher. We will be facing top ranked teams. We will now be working much more harder for the Olympics. We will participate in the pre-Olympic test event in London where we can gauge their game. Definitely there are some grey areas but that happens when you play a weaker side. Your performance improves against a better ranked team. We would like to improve and do much better. When you play world’s best team, you get an idea about your strengths and weaknesses.”
CHANGES MAY BE NEEDED
“At present the team is excellent. The defence is great, midfielders are doing the best job and forwards are exceptional. But when you play tough teams you have to improve standard and take it to a higher level. If there are any better or extraordinary players then they should definitely get a chance. We would be assembling for the camp after a few days. Then only we can see who is better. At present I can’t say who can be included.”
SANDEEP THE TRUMP CARD
“Sandeep is much better than Dutchman Taeke Taekema and Pakistan’s Sohail Abbas. He has more power than the two and I think at present he is the best in the world. He will be our trump card in London. Not only him even Raghunath and Rupinderpal Singh are now the best drag-flickers.”
ATTACKING HOCKEY
“Coach Nobbs has done a great job in bringing in the attacking game. With our skill and speed we can keep continuos pressure on the opponents’ circle. In the qualifiers our circle penetration was more than 60 per cent. If we continue to attack then we can goal-scoring opportunities. The more circle penetration the more the opponents are bound to commit mistake. I think this is the best way to move forward and we will continue to increase our speed and attacks.”
ROLLING SUBSTITUTION
“The seven minutes substitution gives every player much needed rest and time to regain stamina. Today’s hockey is only about speed. Every player has to run up and down on entire field. For that we need players with good stamina and speed. Those on the field give their best in those six-seven minutes which help in scoring goals. It’s like giving 100 per cent for six minutes and taking rest for next six minutes. In that way the entire team gives 100 per cent for entire 70 minutes which puts pressure on the opponents. I think it’s a good idea to keep players rotating and substituting.”

Halappa, Rajpal should have been
included for qualifiers: Ashok Kumar

By Paritosh Pramanik

HE MIGHT be in his early 60s but Ashok Kumar walks with élan on the natural green turf. The two-time Olympian, son of hockey wizard Major Dhyanchand, still looks as fit as in his prime. The World Cup winner, on a personal visit to the city, made it a point to bless Vidarbha Hockey Association’s green field, which he had dedicated to hockey players a few years back.
In an exclusive but informal chat with ‘The Hitavada’ at the ground, Ashok Kumar talked on various topics ranging from Indian team’s chances of qualifying for London Olympics to omission of Arjun Halappa and Rajpal Singh and World Series Hockey.

Excerpts:

Q. What are India’s chances in the qualifiers?
Ashok Kumar (AK): I think this is the best chance for India to qualify for London Olympics. If they can’t make this time then it would be very difficult in future. We would be playing at home, in front of home crowd. It would be an added advantage. Above all, other teams are not that tough as compared to the Germans, Dutch and Australians. I am sure India would book ticket for London at New Delhi.
Q. Are you happy with those selected for the qualifiers?
AK: Selectors have picked the best 18. Coach Michael Nobbs and selectors might have discussed on several points before picking these players. Under Nobbs the team has done well in the first Asian Champions Trophy and I hope they would perform much better.
Q. Do you think Arjun Halappa and Rajpal Singh should have been in the squad?
AK: Yes, I think Arjun is a utility player. He can be the lynchpin of the team. I think he should have been in the squad for the experience he brings in. Similarly, Rajpal should also have found place in the 18. The reason given by Hockey India that he has been dropped on poor fitness and the reply given by Rajpal (that no fitness test was taken) are contradicting. Such contradicting statements confuse general public and might hamper team’s performance.
Q. Do you think this is a fall-out of Halappa and Rajpal joining hands with Indian Hockey Federation-backed World Series Hockey?
AK: If that is the reason then it is hockey that would suffer. The two warring bodies should keep their fight out while selecting team for the country.
Q. Should Hockey India take help of former players?
AK: Yes, I am very much in favour of former players like Dhanraj Pillay and others be invited for their expertise. Former captain Dilip Tirkey is training the defenders. He knows present day’s hockey. Similarly, players who retired recently should be included in the scheme of things.
Q. Nobbs has proposed rotation in the team after every nine minutes. Do you favour this move?
AK: Not at all. Changing a player after every nine minutes would break the tempo. If the team is in attacking mode then you can’t pull out a forward. It would break the combination and flow. Even Dhanraj never played for full 35 minutes. He used to play for 20-25 minutes and then take break of two minutes to regain energy. Similarly, Nobbs should let the boys play for longer period and change only if he feels that a player is getting exhausted.
Q: Who would be the match winners for India in qualifiers?
AK: India’s chances would depend a lot on drag-flicker Sandeep Singh. He is a great player and world’s best drag-flicker. Raghunath too is exceptional. It would be great to see how Sardara Singh shows his skills. He has played as a defender (during World Cup). He also showed great stick work while playing as a forward. A lot would depend on him.
Q. Do you support World Series Hockey? Who would benefit from it?
AK: World Series Hockey is a great concept. Even though foreign players are playing in it, the series would benefit local talents. Fringe players, who are unable to showcase their talent would get a chance of rubbing shoulders with some of world’s greats. I think this is a great opportunity for Indian hockey. Sahara Parivar has increased sponsorship money to Indian hockey teams, Nimbus has pumped in money in form of WSH. I wish HI and IHF bury their egos and join hands for the benefit of the national game.

By Paritosh Pramanik

IT WAS a warm Monday afternoon and the sun was beating down hard on the lush green Vidarbha Hockey Association turf. Around 50 players from around India were warming up for the selection trials conducted by Accountant General (AG) office but the centre of attraction was at the far end, in the gallery. This German lady in her mid-30s was keenly watching the proceedings on the field. A foreign visitor at VHA was definitely a matter of curiosity. ‘The Hitavada’ find out the German connection in Indian hockey.
Andrea Thumshrin, ‘the foreigner’, is actually helping India in building a pool of hockey talent. The former Grade One German League hockey player had an astonishing tale to share with this newspaper. She sold her flat in Berlin to settle in India and start a hockey academy—Hockey Village India Foundation— in a remote village in Rajasthan. She is a globe-trotter but now finds herself at home in India.
On Jaipur-Agra Highway, in a nondescript village called Garh Himmat Singh in Dosa district, Andrea has started her Hockey Village India a year ago.
“It’s almost a year and half that I started this Hockey India Village. Since last one year I have started training kids from this village which has a population of just around 4000,” said Andrea about her dream project.
Andrea, who has a travel agency in Germany, is a vagabond. She first came to India some 12 years back. It was love at first sight as she fell in love with Jaipur on her first visit.
“I felt like home when I landed at Jaipur. Being a travel agent, I am a globe-trotter but at Jaipur I felt like home,” she said when asked about selecting India as her destination.
It was payback time for Andrea who almost made to the German national team but for a slip disc.
“That was the most unfortunate moment in my career. Had that injury not happened I would have played for the country. But no regrets. The game has given me a lot and I want to pay back,” said the lanky German.
It was a difficult task for Andrea to convince kids and their parents to play hockey. The biggest obstacle was the language barrier.
“To be honest, it was very difficult to convince the villagers that I want to give these kids a better life through sports and education. I didn’t have a clear idea on how and from where I could generate money. Nobody really understood what a white lady was doing in this remote village,” she recalled.
Andrea had to sell her flat in Berlin to fund his dream project.
“Last year I sold my flat to pump in some more money for my foundation. Kids are coming now. At present I have around 60 players, both boys and girls, practicing. We don’t have a full size hockey ground. The field is only a quarter of a full hockey field but the kids are learning and enjoying. Last year we played in the KD Singh Babu tournament in Gwalior. Though we lost, the boys got first experience of their life,” said Andrea with a twinkle in her eyes.
“After hockey World Cup last year, I managed to bring a few veteran players from Vienna to Garh Himmat Singh. They helped me in arranging hockey sticks, T-shirts and other equipment for the budding players,” she said.
Though it is very difficult to run the show, various private sport institutions specialising in hockey, some from Germany, have extended their support to her silent revolution.
“They are of great help. Now I have started to even teach these kids. After all education is also must. We have started with English because that’s language which can bridge the gap fast,” she said.
Andrea now has plans to lay astro-turf at Garh Himmat Singh.
“In Germany there are at least two astro-turfs with each club. I want to have one at Garh Himmat Singh. At present the kids are learning on chat (mud) ground. But I want to see them practice on turf like kids do in Germany,” she concluded.

AG Nagpur to recruit hockey players after 14 years

By Principal Correspondent

THE last time a hockey player got recruited in Accountant General (AG) was way back in 1997. After 14 long years, the one-time champions of League tournament has decided to conduct hockey trials and select five hockey players.
The selection trials started on Monday at Vidarbha Hockey Association (VHA) ground. A total of seven sportspersons will be selected through sports quota. Hockey got the major share as per their requirement. Football would be getting one and table tennis one.
Accountant General Recreation Club (AGRC) that used to play in local league and district tournament stopped taking part in the league due to paucity of players. The veterans stopped playing and those interested found it difficult to find fresh legs for a tournament. But now the scene would change.
The first day of the two-day trials saw 45 aspirants taking part. The trials would continue on Tuesday morning too. “Football trials would be held at Motibag ground on February 15 while selection for table tennis would be held in 16th. List of all seven selected players would be out within a week’s time,” informed AR Deshpande, Welfare Officer, Audit Office, while talking to ‘The Hitavada’.
Vinod Gavai, secretary, Vidarbha Hockey Association lauded the move by the government department. “It’s a great news for hockey in the region. From next season we would get one more competitive team for our league. Above all it would be beneficial for players who are in search of job. Recruitment in most of the government departments were nil and with AG starting it, sports recruitment would get a boost. It will also help budding players to take sports.”