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Paul Van Ass has been a busy man ever since he landed in India in the middle of last month to take charge of the Indian senior men’s hockey team for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament beginning in Ipoh, Malaysia from Sunday.
The 54-year-old, who coached the Netherlands men’s hockey team to a silver medal finish in the 2012 London Olympics as well as a runners-up finish in the 2014 World Cup, will have his work cut in his first international assignment considering the fact that world champions Australia, New Zealand and Korea are in the fray. Van Ass touched on various topics concerning hockey in an exclusive interview.
Q You had spent couple of weeks with the Indian team since your arrival in India. How has been your experience so far?
It’s been good so far. I have been speaking to all the players and I know the strengths of each player, in fact, I know some of them quite well.
Q The 2015 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup will be your first real test as India coach. Your thoughts.
Well, I won’t call it a test because this tournament will give me an opportunity to know where we stand and how we can improve. The Indian hockey team is blessed with a lot of talent and I’m really excited to coach this side. It’s only the 2015 Hockey World League Final Round, which will be later this year, a tourney where I could get a fair assessment of how the team is shaping up. Every tournament and every game until then will be an improvement process for me.
Q The 2015 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup features three teams who are higher ranked than India – world champions Australia, New Zealand and Korea. How do you assess India’s chances?
To be honest, I’m not looking too much into the results. I’m more concerned about the improvement areas of this team, which will help become a strong hockey force in the years to come. The next few tournaments my focus is on raising the improvement bar and nothing else.
Q Your predecessor Australian Terry Walsh had a great run during his one-year stint. Do you feel any pressure to deliver?
There is no pressure as such for now. I know the Indian hockey is coming up in leaps and bounds and my job is to ensure the improvement process is a sustained one. It’s important to be consistent if you are to be the world’s best side.
Q India has been coached two Australian coaches in the last three and a half years. Since you are a Dutchman, you would try to bring the European style of hockey into this Indian team?
I won’t copy Dutch hockey and I can assure you of that. The way the Indian team is playing – that process has to be taken forward. Of course, I would like to work on the mental aspects of the game as well as the tactical play over the next twelve months and beyond.
Q You had a distinguished run as the Netherlands men’s hockey team coach. What memories you have of the Orange brigade?
I spent five years with the Dutch team and during this period the Netherlands team took part in nine tournaments. Under me, the Dutch team won five silver medals, three bronze medals besides winning the 2014 Hockey World League crown in New Delhi. I was happy to see the Dutch side finish runners-up in the 2012 London Olympics and 2014 World Cup. Overall, I had a great run with the Dutch side.
Q Indian team probably have the most talented drag-flickers in the world at the moment. Your thoughts.
We have a robust bunch of drag-flickers in the side. Raghunath and Rupinder are quite experienced and then we have two talented flickers in Gurjinder and Harmanpreet. It’s always good to have options for PC routines.
Q The 2016 Rio Olympics will be the most-looked forward event for India. Do you think India stand a realistic chance of bagging a podium finish?
It’s impossible to say those things right now. Like I said before, the 2015 Hockey World League Final Round Event to be held in India, is my prime focus – that event will really give me an opportunity to know how the team is shaping up for the Olympics.
