Video Editor: Sandeep Suman
With an eye on securing a berth in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the Indian hockey team led by PR Sreejesh is set to defend its goal at the Asian Games, starting 18 August in Indonesia.
Senior midfielder Sardar Singh said, “The team has been performing well for the last 3-4 years. Our team ranking has also improved. We have been the No. 1 team in Asia for the past few years. This tournament will be important for all the Asian teams”.
“Everyone will want to win the tournament so they can qualify directly for the Olympic Games and then have two years to prepare for it.”Sardar Singh
India started the year with a few disappointing results on the trot – they finished fifth in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, and returned home from the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games without a medal, for the first time in 20 years. In the next tournament however, India won their second-straight silver at the FIH Champions Trophy in Breda. Besides the fact that all three tournaments were played under different captains, the management was also constantly experimenting with the squad.
Asian Games 2018 – India’s Pool A Matches
vs Hong Kong China – 22 August
vs Japan – 24 August
vs Korea – 26 August
vs Sri Lanka – 28 August
Ahead of the Asian Games, coach Harendra Singh, Sardar and senior dragflicker Rupinder Pal Singh listed the three areas that the team was working on.
1. Finishing Strong
Senior player Sardar pointed out that one of the takeaways for the team from the Champions Trophy, which concluded in July, was how to deal with the pressure in the final few minutes of the game.
There are still some areas of improvement. Our takeaway from the Champions Trophy was that we need to improve how we perform in the last minutes – when we’re under pressure, how to keep possession of the ball and how to keep the other team under pressure.Sardar Singh
2. Mental Toughness
Another area that the team was working on ahead of the Asian Games is mental toughness, revealed coach Harendra Singh.
“Our skill and speed are on par with international teams. We have been working on mental toughness. The team is very enthusiastic about winning and securing a qualification for Tokyo in Jakarta,” said coach Singh.
3. Penalty Corner Variations
Senior defender and penalty corner specialist Rupinder Pal Singh said that while the team’s PCs had shown signs of improvement in the past few games they played against New Zealand and Korea, players were now working on different variations.
Looking at the last few games we played against New Zealand and Korea our penalty corner results have been okay. Now we’re focusing on variations. Hopefully we can do well at the Asian Games.Rupinder Pal Singh
For more latest news and updates from the 2018 Asian Games, click here.
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