'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Indian men’s hockey team coach Michael Nobbs surveys the field during a training session at the Old Loughtonians Hockey Club at Chigwell in Essex on July 26, 2012 one day before the official start of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Getty Images)
London Olympic qualifiers (February 18-26, 2012):
The London Olympic qualifiers were the biggest test for Nobbs and there was pressure on him given the fact that the event was played in front of their home fans in New Delhi. Drag-flicker Sandeep Singh was in such rousing form that he ensured no team posed serious threat to India’s qualifying hopes.
Sandeep struck a whopping 16 goals in the tournament, including 5 in the 8-1 final win over France to exorcise the ghosts of Santiago 2008 when India missed the Olympic bus for the first time ever.
Four-Nation Olympic Test Tournament (London, May 2-6, 2012):
Reality struck the Indian team when they locked horns with the world top teams – Germany, Australia and Great Britain in the Four-Nation Olympic Test tournament.
India lost tamely 0-3 and 2-4 to Australia and Great Britain before scripting a magnificent performance against Germany, losing 1-2 following a late Florian Fuchs goal after the Blueshirts took the lead. Nobbs knew his team had a lot of hard work left before the London Olympics.
Sultan Azlan Shah Cup (May 24-June 3, 2012):
India regrouped well from the disappointing Four-Nation Olympic Test tournament, bagging a bronze in the 21st Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, piping higher ranked Great Britain 3-1 in the play-off game.
It was a huge recovery for a side which received a 1-5 thrashing from New Zealand in their tournament opener.
European Tour (London Olympic warm-ups June-July 2012):
Indian team embarked on a European tour to tune up for the London Olympics. Nobbs’s troops routed France 8-2 and 4-0 in the two Test matches. The Blueshirts drew 3-3 against Spain before losing to them 1-2 in two Test matches.
India also played two Tests against South Africa, winning the first one 6-5 before suffering a narrow 3-4 defeat in the second Test. India figured in a Three Nation tourney featuring Spain and Great Britain. India lost 1-2 to Spain and 1-3 to Great Britain respectively.
London Olympics (July 27-August 12, 2012):
India put up a brave effort against the Netherlands in their Olympic opener going down 2-3, but after that they fell like a pack of cards to lose all their league games to settle for the wooden spoon – their worst ever showing in the marquee event.
Nobbs survived calls from all quarters for his sacking, but was lucky to get the backing of SAI and Hockey India and managed to hold on to his job. The fact that he was just one year into his job went in his favour or else an axe was a mere formability.
