‘CT would’ve been a good build-up for Oly qualifiers’

n By Paritosh Pramanik
NAGPUR, Sept 13

HIS cell phone kept ringing since he touched the Indian shores. His friends, hockey lovers and followers congratulated him. Journalists took most of his early morning time for some exclusive quotes. But Indian hockey captain Rajpal Singh never got annoyed. Rather, he was more than happy to respond to every call.
“They all are our well wishers. How can I ignore them,” said Rajpal with a chuckle, while talking to ‘The Hitavada’ from New Delhi.
Rajpal and his young men defeated arch-rivals Pakistan in the final to clinch the maiden Asian Champions Trophy at Ordos in China last Sunday.
The Indian team remained unbeaten in the tournament drawing three matches and winning as many to clinch the trophy. This was India’s first major championship in four years since Prabodh Tirkey had lifted the Asia Cup in Chennai in 2007.
The Indian captain was sad to know that the Champions Trophy, supposed to be held in India, has now been shifted to Auckland, New Zealand.
“It’s sad. It would have been better had it been played in India. We would have got a chance to play some of the top teams ahead of Olympic qualifiers. It would have been a good build-up. But now we will have to play as the top-seeded team at the Champions Challenge in November in South Africa. We will have to win that meet to qualify for Champions Trophy. But our main aim is to qualify for London Games and we will work much harder to achieve our goal,” said Rajpal.
The Indian captain said it’s a great moment for Indian hockey as the win would give a big boost to the game.
“It’s good that we won a major title at this juncture. Indian hockey is being ridden with controversies in the recent past and we did not let that affect our game,” said Rajpal.
According to Rajpal, the secret of this team’s success was the unity amongst the players. “We were united during the entire tournament. We never let the off-field controversies affect our game. We concentrated on the game at hand. It’s not our job to think about the tussle between Hockey India and Indian Hockey Federation,” Rajpal stated. Indian team was without experienced players like Arjun Halappa, Tushar Khandekar, Shivendra Singh who are nursing injuries. But the juniors grabbed the opportunities with both hands and Rajpal said they performed above expectation.
“Yes, the team would have been a much stronger had seniors like Shivendra, Arjun, Tushar been there. But the juniors performed exceedingly well, above expectation. “They were new but not raw. All of them had played at international level so they had the feel of playing an international tournament. But they really played well,” he said. The captain had special praise for midfielder Gurbaz Singh who was exceptional in all the matches.
“Gurbaz was player of the tournament. He was excellent in the midfield. His passes were accurate and ball trapping was unbelievable,” said the captain. Rajpal said the new penalty shoot-out rule, which was used during the final, favoured India.
Earlier, the shots were taken from a fixed spot but according to changed rules, the tie-breaker involves the striker starting with the ball from outside the 23-yard circle and have to beat rival goal-keeper to score within eight seconds.
“We had used this method a few year back during the Premier Hockey League (PHL) so we had a fair bit of idea about that. You can say the new rule has helped us more. But yes we practised it during this tournament also,” informed the Indian forward.








I wanted to make my country proud: Sreejesh


By Paritosh Pramanik
NAGPUR, Sept 13

IT WAS a final and it was India vs Pakistan. And nobody in the Indian camp wanted to give any leeway to the arch-rivals. In the end it all boiled down to one man — the goal-keeper. The lanky Indian custodian Parattu Raveendran Sreejesh, who was out of the international circuit for around a year, decided to hoist the Indian flag a notch up than Pakistan. The six-foot tall Indian goal-keeper used his height to thwart Pakistan as he made two crucial saves that saw India lift the Asian Champions Trophy.
Goal-keepers are admired only when it comes to penalty shoot-outs and Sreejesh decided to make it his day.
“You know the only time a goal-keeper gets the credit is when the game is decided on penalties. I think it was my day and I was lucky to save those two penalties,” said the elated Indian goal-keeper while talking to ‘The Hitavada’ from New Delhi. “During the shoot-outs my mind was clear. I just wanted to save the shots and make my country proud,” he added.
Coach Michael Nobbs used both the goal-keepers in the tournament and it was by rotation that Sreejesh got the opportunity to stand under the bar in the final. “After we entered the final, our coach (Michael) Nobbs said that I would be the first choice goal-keeper for the final. So I was prepared for the big match,” said Sreejesh who missed the Commonwealth Games due to back injury.
The lanky goal-keeper said he got the advantage of his height during the match. “Being a 6-footer always helps. In the final also I took the advantage of my height,” added Sreejesh.
Sreejesh last represented India during last year’s European tour after which he suffered disc injury. Those were painful days for the Kerala-born keeper. “I suffered a disc injury which forced me out. I took rehabilitation and was advised proper rest. Slowly I started practising and got into rhythm. I worked hard as I always wanted to be back in the Indian squad,” he said.
Despite being the hero of the team for winning the title, Sreejesh feels that he needs more hard work to cement his place in the team. “I will work much harder and will try my best to keep my place in the team.”
Sreejesh wanted to dedicate his medal to his fellow custodian Adrian D’Souza. “He is my best pal. He always helped me on and off the field. I want to dedicate this (gold) medal to him,” Sreejesh proudly said. Sreejesh said instead of ruing the missed chance of Champions Trophy the team should concentrate on the Champions Challenge. “I think we should forget this (missing Champions Trophy) and plan about the Champions Challenge which is going to be held in November in South Africa. If we win that tournament we would qualify for the main tournament,” he signed off.

VHA included in ‘New Hockey Federation’

Can take part in national tournaments

By Paritosh Pramanik

VIDARBHA Hockey Association (VHA) has come out victors as far as participation in national tournaments is concerned. The three-year long fight with Hockey India (HI) for its survival at the top level is over with the Joint Executive Committee for Hockey in India and Sports Ministry accepting the demand to keep the affiliation of the six-decades-old body.
In a major development, Hockey India and Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) have decided to work together without forming a unified body.
Talking to ‘The Hitavada’ over phone from Delhi, IHF secretary Ashok Mathur said, “VHA, which is affiliated with IHF, along with Mumbai, Maharashtra, Bhopal and Hyderabad, will remain part of the “Joint Executive Committee for Hockey in India.”
Mathur said VHA would be able to take part in national and other invitational tournaments organised under the banner of HI or IHF.
“Be it Vidarbha, Mumbai, Maharashtra, Patiala, Bhopal or any other association...they all would be allowed to take part in the nationals (senior, junior, boys or girls),” informed Mathur.
Mathur said IHF was clear in their stand of having VHA, Mumbai, Maharashtra, Bhopal, Hyderabad as their affiliated members.
The issue of affiliation to these five units was discussed during the meeting ten days back and Sports Ministry secretary Injeti Srinivas had accepted the demand of IHF.
‘The Hitavada’ was the first to report about VHA getting affiliation with the joint body.
After IHF was disbanded and Hockey India took over the reigns of the game in 2008 VHA as well as the other associations’ existence was in danger as HI adhered to one-state-one-unit policy.
Last month Sports Ministry had proposed a merger plan to the two warring bodies. The Ministry had asked for their views on it and had also warned them of stern action if they failed to budge.
IHF was stern in its stand of including Vidarbha, Mumbai, which is 100 years old association, Maharashtra, Bhopal and Hyderabad, as affiliated units in the national federation.
During a meeting held on June 21, IHF had supported VHA to be part of the Indian Federation and were firm on their stand whenever the two warring factions met with the government.
“We have clearly stated that associations like Vidarbha, Mumbai, Bhopal, Hyderabad and Maharashtra are more than 50-60 years old. We can’t suddenly wipe them out. They would be part of the merged body,” Mathur said.
An elated VHA secretary Vinod Gawai said he was happy that their fight for survival and recognition bore fruits. “All we wanted is participation in national tournaments. We always fought for our players. We were firm in our fight and that is the reason IHF supported us,” said Gawai.
“The players would not lose out on playing in nationals, at least till 2012,” he added.
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VHA elections likely in September

SLUG: Last AGM under present body on Sunday
By Paritosh Pramanik

THE most awaited elections of Vidarbha Hockey Association (VHA), in all probability, would be held in the month of September.
The Annual General Body Meeting (AGM), which was not held last year, would be held on Sunday, July 31 at Sarvoday Ashram, Amravati Road.
This would be the second time VHA goes to elections after its Constitution was amended in 2007 and executive body’s term was extended to four years.
This year elections would be conducted in the presence of Election Officer appointed by Deputy Charity Commissioner.
According to secretary’s report, some members have filed an application before the Deputy Charity Commissioner seeking direction for election as per voters’ list of 2005 elections. But the present executive body objected to and defended their members who were added between 2005-2011.
At present VHA has 504 members including 100 Patrons, 341 Life Members, two Honorary Members (without voting rights) and 61 Affiliated Units.
“Deputy Charity Commissioner, vide order dated 28.6.2011, directed the association to hold elections within three months as per the voters list submitted up to date of elections. Deputy Charity Commissioner has also appointed Election Officer for the same. Accordingly, VHA’s forthcoming election programme would be declared by Election Officer separately,” the secretary’s report states.