Former India males’s hockey staff captain V Baskaran, who led them to their final gold medal on the 1980 Olympics, got here down closely on the gamers after the dismal present on the not too long ago concluded World Cup. Hosts India completed ninth with Germany lifting the title in Bhubaneswar on 29 January.
Internet hosting the World Cup for a second consecutive version, India have been anticipated to not less than attain the semi-finals – one thing that they’ve not achieved since 1975. A drought-breaking bronze on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, first medal since 1980 Summer season Video games, gave good cause to be optimistic. Nevertheless, the staff, coached by Graham Reid and captained by Harmanpreet Singh, did not stay as much as the expectations as they misplaced to a lowly New Zealand within the crossover match to get knocked out.
To make issues worse, coach Graham Reid resigned instantly after the showpiece occasion got here to an finish. Whereas Reid had come below criticism for India’s below-par efficiency, Baskaran feels the blame lies with the gamers for failing to supply their ‘A sport’ on the highest stage.
A coach is simply pretty much as good because the gamers at his disposal. Demoralising defeats occur. Now what issues is how we mud ourselves & rise up & preserve going. The authorities will certainly choose an incredible coach for 🇮🇳🏑. However the greatest accountability lies with the gamers.— Viren Rasquinha (@virenrasquinha) January 31, 2023
Baskaran, ex-India captain and coach on the 1998 and 2006 World Cups, mentioned what may have led to India’s under-par outing within the World Cup, Reid’s resignation and the best way ahead for Indian hockey.
Excerpts:
What’s your response to Graham Reid resigning as India coach, particularly after we improved so drastically below him?
He turned India right into a aggressive unit. We improved on a number of fronts below his tenure. The very first thing he improved was we stopped conceding targets within the final two minutes. On the Australia tour earlier than the World Cup, we noticed the staff bouncing again from 2-1 right down to win a match 4-3. The resignation is his personal choice. His choice alongside together with his contribution needs to be revered earlier than we begin speaking about why he resigned or who can substitute him. That’s the Australian tradition. A tradition by which in case you don’t produce outcomes then you definitely personal it. For my part, he ought to have positively continued. Earlier than resigning, he ought to have consulted Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey. Dilip himself being an Olympian would have understood the scenario.
What do you assume will need to have pressured Reid to resign from his publish regardless of being so extremely profitable and serving to India break the Olympic medal drought?
I’ve heard, nonetheless how true I don’t know, that among the gamers will not be pleased with the teaching. That’s our Indian gamers’ perspective. You can not blame the coach, the execution needs to be achieved by the gamers. Within the World Cup, everybody talked about PC (penalty nook) conversion, however someplace down the road, the gamers didn’t give their finest. If the gamers don’t give their finest no matter sport plan or coaching you make (received’t work). The identical staff minus 4 gamers did so effectively in opposition to Germany within the final Olympics, bouncing again from 1-3 down and successful bronze.
Folks anticipated this staff to carry out at a a lot greater stage. First I communicate as a participant. The fireplace within the Indian staff was lacking from what it was on the Olympics. Even in case you take out Rupinder Pal Singh, Simranjit Singh, Dilpreet Singh and Gurjant Singh, there was sufficient expertise within the squad. Evaluating them to Europeans, the Netherlands is a model new staff. How did these gamers execute on the highest stage? That’s lacking from Indian gamers. One other factor is perhaps Graham Reid could have felt a star tradition within the staff. The Indian gamers could have thought that they’re celebrities.
The place can we go from right here? With Hockey Professional League resuming in March and Asian Video games in 9 months, how ought to Hockey India proceed additional?
From right here the place we go, is Hockey India’s plan. Whether or not we proceed with the identical gamers or we could have a brand new setup. In March now we have the Professional League. For my part, the core group was not constant. I can ask so many questions: how did Varun Kumar come again into the core group? After getting back from England, he was eliminated after which he got here again all of a sudden. The health of Lalit Upadhyay, a great participant, however he had suffered an damage (knee) some time again. Some sharpness was lacking within the ahead line. All the opposite groups after they did not get PC targets, acquired subject targets. We should always have had extra forwards within the squad of 18 as an alternative of getting simply 4. The identification of the ahead line was not very aggressive and that put strain on the midfield.
Do you then assume will probably be sensible to have an Indian coach now contemplating that there are such a lot of prime competitions arising and little or no time for anybody to adapt and calm down?
Very first thing, Hockey India ought to have an advisory committee in hockey similar to now we have in cricket. To pick out the coach. A search committee for the gamers. Dilip himself has been an incredible participant so he ought to have the ability to do the suitable issues. We have to have a committee to do issues in an organised and correct means. As a result of now we have an Olympics coming subsequent 12 months.
Going again to Reid asking for a psychological conditioning coach for India. What are your ideas on that?
I disagree. The identical staff received the bronze medal and not using a psychological coach. Let’s be very trustworthy now we have gamers who’ve performed over 200 video games. The identical staff after being one aim down acquired 4 targets to win the bronze medal. In the event you win, it’s arduous work. If you lose, it’s as a result of a scarcity of a psychological conditioning coach. Profitable is about a number of proper selections.
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