Finger crossed after cliffhanger

Indians cautiously optimistic on eve of semi-final against Germany at Jr World Cup

MANISH KUMAR

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 18: It’s going to be a close fight (against Germany). If you recall, the Dutch had beaten Australia, Australia beat us and we beat the Dutch 4-3, to qualify — Rajinder Singh, Indian coach The ball is round. It can go left, it can go right — Pieter Offerman, Dutch coach A good horse only springs as high as it needs to — Uli Forstner, German coach FLUCTUATING fortunes and cliffhangers contest have meant nobody is ready to stick their neck out. On eve of the semi-final matches - India vs Germany; England vs Argentina - at the 7th Junior World Cup hockey the soothsayers have deserted the Tasmania Hockey Centre.

Despite India’s pulsating performance so far coach Rajinder Singh is anything but euphoric. The mood is contemplative at Montgomery’s Hotel in Tasmania, where the Indians are staying. Rajinder, while talking to The Indian Express on phone, said "Anything can happen tomorrow. Germany is a tough team but we are prepared." The team that got the silver medal in the last edition may have surprised many in Australia but the regular hockey watchers at home vouch that this is the best junior team to emerge from India in recent times. And it is because of these expectations that only a gold medal at Hobart can bring to the hockey circles.

The team was predicted a smooth sailing to the semis but midway their plans had to be almost abandoned when they lost to defending champion Australia in a crucial match in the second round. They fought back with gusto in the final game against the Dutch and in the process, snuffed out the chances of both Australia and the Netherlands. India and Argentina have qualified from Group F.

For the first time, the tournament was conducted with 16 teams in the fray and the difference among the top 10 has emerged to be waffer-thin. "The standard of teams at this event is such that the majority would beat many of the nations in the senior qualifying tournament," opined England coach David Vinson.

In the previous World Cup, the flamboyant Rajiv Mishra made a mark for India before his career ended prematurely due to injury. The player, who couldn’t make it to that World Cup despite being among the probables, is now leading the Indian team. The 21-year-old Gagan Ajit Singh, along with other youngsters like teammate Deepak Thakur and Australia’s Craig Victory, gave ample measure of their graduation to the big league during the Sydney Olympics. And the presence of these promising youngsters have made the Hobart event a high-class affair.

The penalty corner conversion rates of the Indians has been impressive in the tournament. The Indians found 75 per cent success against the Dutch. "We are using five different variations for which we deploy Gagan, Deepak, Kanwalpreet Singh, Bipin Fernandez and Jugraj Singh," said Rajinder. Penalty-corner specialist Jugraj Singh, who is just 18, is under watch by the top coaches. Besides, the Punjab-based Kanwalpreet Singh too has been the find of the tournament. Case in point: His match-winning penalty corner in the dying minutes of the game against the Dutch. According to the Indian coach, the IHF’s investment at the junior level should be given credit for the team’s performance. "In the last couple of years, players have started getting lot of exposure from the under-16 level and they are more confident playing such important tournaments," said Rajinder.

So far, the Indians have made few tactical errors on the field except in the match against Australia which they lost 2-1. The midfield is touted by many among the best talent to emerge in recent years. However, the Indian coach said, "It’s more important to have a balanced team and I feel that all our 18 players have the same level."

And it will require optimum effort from all of Rajinder’s wards to get straight the great hockey nation’s international record. The nation which boasts of those 8 Olympics gold has never won the junior World Cup event.