The fact -- India winning the Asian Games hockey gold medal after 32 years -- is yet to sink in. The frozen sight in mind's eye, of the Indian players leaping with joy when Mukesh Kumar converted the fourth stroke in the tie-breaker, still triggers a welter of emotions.

Under the circumstances, judgement and perspective take flight as one savours the triumph, the first major since the 1980 gold at Moscow Olympics. While it is certainly a time for rejoicing and celebrations, the sooner one gets down to reality, the better.

For instance, in the wake of the 1975 World Cup victory at Kuala Lumpur, precious little was done to capitalise on the success, and just a year later, India took a pounding at the 1976 Montreal Olympics where the newly-introduced astro-turf and internal squabbling triggered a slide. After Moscow, another top-level success eluded India, though an odd victory in the minor tournaments kept the sportafloat. But the fact remains that at the highest level (Olympics, World Cup and Champions Trophy), the Indians are still to achieve anything worthwhile, and one can hope the Asiad gold on Saturday will jettison the resurgence of Indian hockey.

Ashish Ballal would emerge as the hero of the triumph with his two saves in the tie-breaker. But then, putting the goalkeeper alone on the pedestal would be injustice to quiet performers like full-back Dilip Tirkey, half-backs Ramandeep Singh and Baljit Singh Saini, and forwards Dhanraj Pillay and Baljit Singh Dhillon.

In the final, it was the deep defence which kept India on the right path. The likeable Orissa lad Tirkey, Ramandeep and Saini had a great game. Had these boys even put a step wrong, it would have been the end for India.For players like Mukesh Kumar and Sabu Varkey, it was a case of blowing hot and cold, while Sandeep Somesh at centre-half acquitted himself well, as did Mohammed Riaz despite having to play in an unfamiliar position of inside-left,after replacing Jude Felix as the centre-half.

Not to mention the weak challenge that India met and overcame in the league, barring the game against South Korea. The semifinals should have been a virtual walkover, but the Indians made heavy weather of Japan. But India's best performance in the tournament was in the first 35 minutes against the Koreans in the league.

How would the Indian Hockey Federation go about consolidating the gains of this medal ? Surely, a couple of seniors would be entertaining thoughts of retiring, and there were enough signs that not all were able to last the distance in close matches like those against Korea.

Having qualified for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, by virtue of emerging Asian champions, India have earned themselves nearly two years to prepare for the biggest competition of all. It is as good a time as any to identify the nucleus of the future Indian team and groom a fresh side.

Lest the hockey bosses forget, let it be said the Asian Games gold is only the start ofIndia's long haul to the top and not the end in itself. To begin with, the IHF is obliged to make good their promises of rewards and then, cast aside sentiments to work for the future (and good) of Indian hockey.

Long live Indian hockey!

The celebrations in the Indian hockey camp flowed into the wee hours of this morning as the players, the coaches and a few officials just couldn't have enough of rejoicing over the gold medal that the team won on Saturday night.

At the Village, Hindi music could be heard outside the Indian contingent's apartment building. An emotional skipper Dhanraj Pillay kept repeating: ``This is the greatest moment of my life.''

Elsewhere, the tears flowed freely as did the bear-hugs, backslapping and spontaneous dance to popular Hindi pop music. The scenes were rivetting and had to be seen to be believed.

Few players cared to answer mundane questions about their feelings in the moment of triumph. For them, they had achieved a goal they had set out to and for which, therewere few backers.

The two coaches, MK Kaushik and Mir Ranjan Negi, were as swept away by the tidal wave of emotions as the players themselves. So much so, that even the visitors and well-wishers visiting the team cried alongside. There was no shame in shedding tears on Saturday night and it was time for one to let the hair down.

Thus, the party carried on through the night. Even this morning, some players were doing a jig in the rooms.

At last, the long wait has ended, and, as somebody quipped, long live Indian hockey !