Confident India seek to seal semi-final spot

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Sydney: The Indian hockey team these days walks around with the kind of confidence that has not been seen for a long time. It is the kind of confidence that comes from the knowledge of self-belief: We can do it.

After a morale boosting 3-0 win over Argentina and a fine performance against Australia - a 2-2 draw - which should actually have been a win, the Indian team finally believes that it can go to the semi-finals and who knows, even all the way.

On Thursday, the Indians go to the Sydney Hockey Centre for their third of the five league matches and it is against Korea, who they beat in tie-breaker in the Asian Games. That win in Bangkok Asiad had confirmed India's berth for Sydney Olympics.

And now the Indian side led by Ramandeep Singh realises a win against Korea would almost make sure India's passage into the semi-finals.

In the past few Olympics, actually ever since 1980, when India last won the gold medal, the Indian sides have always looked a little out sorts in the initial stages and then tried to pick up in the last two or three matches.

More often than not, it has turned out to be too little too late and the Indians have found the door shutting on their face. After the first two matches, the Indians have four points and are behind the hosts on goal difference.

The Australians have scored six and conceded two, while India has scored five and conceded two. The other teams in the group have been going through a turbulent period.

Poland were mauled by the Australians 4-0 in their opening match, but the Poles, generally sticky customers, came back strongly in the second game and stunned Spain, the finalists in 1996 Olympics 4-1 in the second game.

Meanwhile, Korea the other contenders for a semi-final berth from the group have drawn both their matches so far. Korea drew 1-1 with Spain and then were held by Argentina 2-2. So they have a lot of catching up to do.

And they realise a defeat against India on Thursday could well spell the end of their challenge here in Sydney. The Asia Cup champions have beensomewhat listless, but they are a supremely fit side, which can pick up the tempo at any time. Korea were also the runners-up in the prestigious Champions Trophy in 1999.

The Indians will once again look upto their forward line, which has done well so far. Veterans Mukesh Kumar and Dhanraj Pillay have been playing extremely well.

Mukesh has been on target in both games and Pillay has been all over. In fact times without number the senior most member of the squad has fallen back in times of trouble to help out the defence.

Though Ramandeep said the defence need a little more tightening, the backs have done a fairly decent job. Dilip Tirkey and Dinesh Nayak and goalkeeper Jude Menezes have looked good and Ramandeep himself hasbeen playing as a sweeper back. Upfront Sameer Dad has been impressive.

The Indian coach Vasudevan Baskaran also has a smile on his face, though admittedly the smile would have been wider had India managed to hold on to the 2-1 lead against Australia.

So far the Indians have been playing at a rather fast pace. They did that against both Argentina and Australia, but maybe they could slow down the pace and break the Korean rhythm and that could help the Indians.

As Baskaran has been saying, "We will adapt ourselves according to the situation." The need now is for one better win and a good part of the battle would have been won.

India Abroad News Service