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The national team will look to put their best foot forward, despite being in the ‘pool of death’The hour is upon us as the most prestigious hockey tournament of the year, the Hero Hockey World League Final, is about to commence. The top eight men’s teams from across the world will look to outplay each other and carve out their credentials as world beaters, as they step onto the astro-turf at the Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel International hockey stadium in Raipur.India, riding a wave of good form which helped them ascend the global rankings to sixth place, will look to parlay that form and confidence into a high finish. Despite a home field advantage, India are expected to be put through the wringer from the get-go, as they face fifth-ranked Argentina and third-ranked Germany in their first two matches.Under the expert eye of veteran coach Roelant Oltmans, the Indians have put on impressive shows against New Zealand (they won the away tour) and World Champions Australia (home series drawn 1-1). More importantly, these two tournaments have made immeasurable contributions to the overall evolution of the team. Facing the gauntlet, the hosts will have to use contributions from every member of what will hopefully be a finely honed, cohesive unit to win matches. But as with every team, some contributions are expected to be more seminal for the team. Let’s take a look at the five individuals who could shape India’s fortunes in the tournament:
#1 Sardar Singh
India’s youngest hockey captain and veteran midfielder is the team’s catalyst. The Padma Shri awardee’s inconspicuous stewardship skills are nonetheless effective. Equally valuable are his talents as an injector, which is one of the triptych of hockey’s hallowed penalty corner play.
With drag-flicking specialist VR Raghunath, Sardar is one of India’s offensive lynchpins.
#2 VR Raghunath
The veteran drag-flicking specialist is the firebrand of the Indian team. The Kodagu lad has drawn flak for his on-field temperament at times, but his 120+ goals in almost 200 matches are a testament to his skill and his indispensability to the team. In the absence of former Indian skipper and world-class drag-flicker Sandeep Singh, Raghunath has admirably risen to the occasion and put India on the scoreboard plenty of times.
#3 PR Sreejesh
The Indian vice-captain and custodian is one of the most unperturbable players in the world. A multiple “Goalkeeper of the tournament” award winner, he is a calming presence on the field and one of the most dependable members of the Indian outfit.
Born into a family of agriculturists, Sreejesh began as a sprinter, before trying his hand at volleyball and long jump. As a teenager, his goalkeeping skills were noticed by coaches Jayakumar and Rajesh Kollappa in the GV Raja Sports School in Trivandrum.
A very fruitful venture it would prove. After playing second fiddle to senior custodians Bharat Chetri and Adrian D’Souza, Sreejesh became the starting goalkeeper in 2011, a spot he has held since.
#4 SV Sunil
The quintessential rags-to-riches story. From very humble beginnings to becoming the spearhead of the Indian offense, Sunil is an inspiration for aspiring young athletes around the world. The Kodagu lad practiced with a bamboo shoot as a kid, because his family was so poor that they could not afford a hockey stick.
Sunil is known for his speed and along with Ramandeep Singh and Akashdeep Singh, he forms one of the most potent forward lines in the Hockey World League.
#5 Birendra Lakra
Hockey is in this Odiyan’s blood. His elder brother Bimal was a midfielder in the national side and his sister Asunta was captain of the Indian eves. Lakra’s consistence on the defensive line has cemented his place in the national squad.
Lakra will be remembered for his sniper-like pass to a forward that was converted and helped them defeat Belgium in the quarterfinal of the 2012 Champions Trophy. India advanced to the semi-finals due to his effort.
