Final Up to date: January 22, 2023, 15:30 IST
Indian hcokey star Rupinder Pal Singh (Instagram)
Rupinder Pal Singh mentioned penalty-corner defence has improved manifold in recent times and that was why drag-flickers all around the world have been discovering it troublesome to attain
Former India drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh feels that worldwide groups will discover it more and more troublesome to attain from penalty corners as using know-how within the recreation — comparable to video evaluation by opponents — has made the exponents of the craft troublesome to beat the defenders.
Rupinder, who was part of the Tokyo Olympics bronze-winning workforce however retired quickly after, mentioned penalty-corner defence has improved manifold in recent times and that was why drag-flickers all around the world have been discovering it troublesome to attain.
“Defending penalty corners has develop into an artwork in recent times. Each workforce now has video evaluation to check how the opponents take their PCs. They’ll analyse how the drag glints of the opposition workforce flick and the way they use variations, and accordingly prepare to forestall targets,” Rupinder advised PTI on telephone from his dwelling in Punjab.
“It’s the identical within the case of India. We’re additionally excellent at defending penalty corners as we noticed in opposition to England (on this World Cup). Our first rushers, Amit Rohidas and Manpreet Singh, are very fast to hurry out and shut the angle,” mentioned Rupinder who fashioned a potent pair of drag glints within the Tokyo Olympics, together with present India captain Harmanpreet Singh.
India have scored three targets from penalty corners out of the 16 they earned within the ongoing World Cup, which is lower than one-fifth of the overall targets. General, 43 targets have been scored from PCs on this World Cup out of a complete of 130 targets scored from 24 matches on the finish of the pool phases.
“It’s a World Cup, not any worldwide match or bilateral Take a look at. Each workforce will attempt to rating probably the most from PCs and, on the identical time, they may attempt to defend the PCs the perfect they will,” the 32-year-old mentioned.
Rupinder mentioned that aside from the video evaluation of opposition groups, higher high quality gear, comparable to knee and mouth guard, gloves and head guard have made rushers concern the drag flick lower than up to now, and to allow them to defend higher now.
“So, we can’t say the effectiveness of drag glints has gone down in hockey as a result of the lower in conversion price is because of higher defending of PCs than earlier than. You possibly can’t assist it and it’s the means it’s.
“However it isn’t that drag-flickers aren’t going to attain targets. They’ll rating. It’s about timing, if there may be coordination between the injector, stopper (of the ball) and drag flicker, then targets will probably be scored.”
Harmanpreet, one probably the most dreaded drag-flickers on this planet, has had a quiet match thus far, having scored only one purpose from PCs — in opposition to Wales in India’s ultimate pool match on Thursday.
However Rupinder suggested the Indian drag-flickers to simply keep calm and constructive, saying that targets ought to come from their sticks.
“It occurs in high-pressure conditions, they need to stay calm and constructive. I feel they haven’t completed something improper and they need to not have unfavourable ideas.”
Harmanpreet was in nice kind through the Tokyo Olympics, scoring six targets, together with one through the bronze-medal match in opposition to Germany. Rupinder had additionally scored one from his drag flick in that match.
“Within the Tokyo Olympics, we had completed nicely in changing and defending PCs. So, I hope this workforce may also do nicely within the coming matches of this World Cup.”
In line with FIH information, India transformed 10 PCs out of a complete of 31 they earned within the Tokyo Olympics whereas in addition they conceded 10 targets from the 47 PCs they defended.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed)