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Another disappointing international tournament comes to an end for the Indian Men’s hockey team. They’ve won 1 game, lost 3 and drawn 1. They now take on Korea for a 9th place finish. But the team is showing improvement. Yes, there are areas like penalty corner conversion and psychological toughness which needs to be looked at, but overall this team is on its way up.
Since 2012, the team has done reasonably well. They’ve beaten Olympic champs Germany, fared well in the Asia Cup and World League finals. Terry Walsh has just added onto the good work done by Micheal Nobbs. But here’s the thing with Indian hockey, we don’t always stick with our coach after a bad display at an international event. The players need a constant figure at the helm and with Walsh and Oltmans, we have that.
In the past, some have called for domestic coaches. But they don’t get enough time to nurture the team. Hockey India needs to realize this fact in order for India to do well in the future. It’s important we work on the mistakes made at The Hague, and make it a point to not repeat them at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Asian Games later this year.
Besides these two tournaments, there’s also a qualifying campaign for the Rio Olympics. Stability in the dressing room is the need of the hour for Team India. Constant chopping and changing of coaching staff will do no good for Indian hockey. The team is young and will only gain experience if they participate in big games. Changes in the dressing room will only add concern in the minds of the players which won’t help the results.
Walsh signaled the need for a sports psychiatrist way before the World Cup began. Losing matches in the closing stages of a game is nothing new for Team India. They threw the game against Belgium away. The game against the English could’ve ended in a draw . Such an ordinary dip in concentration towards the latter half of the game is not done. This is a problem which needs immediate attention. Another area of concern for Team India is the school-boyish attitude towards penalty corners (PC). Whether it’s the push in or the trapping or the final drag flick. India seems to miss out on all these areas.
At one point in time, P.C conversion was the only source of goals for India. The tournament in Hague didn’t reflect the same. Inconsistency in such an important area of the game will reduce the goals for the team and the team will lose out on games. Such concerns can be tackled, provided the men/women in charge of the national game show faith in Walsh and his team. If Hockey India does go by its past decisions relating to the coach, the future is looking very bleak for team India.
So, to cut a long story short, stick with Walsh and co. Let them develop a team. Don’t judge them so soon.
