Can Dhanraj & co do it despite the loss?

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Mumbai: We are confident? The boys are confident of doing well? If we play upto our potential then we can win a medal? - famous last words of the Indian hockey teams, their coaches and players before the last four Olympics where we consistently did bad in a traditionally strong event.

It was hence with a pinch of salt and the foreboding of deja vu that we took it when we heard the "class of 2000" repeat the same words on the eve of their trip to the land of the Oz.

But this time it has been a refreshingly different story. A story, which has given the millions in India, hopes. Dare we think a possible fairy-tale ending where India can win a medal in hockey at the Olympics?

Well the way Dhanraj & co., have started a medal if not the gold looks a strong certainty. India could have dreamed of the gold, if they had continued the same form against South Korea too.

Unfortunately, the Indians looked a little fatigued after the night match against the Australians and suffered an unexpected loss against the Koreans. Before the first match against Argentina the Indians were emphasising on the virtues of a positive and aggressive style of play to counter the hard tackling physical South Americans.

Well all early remarks by the players and the coach made one wonder whether they were putting themselves under tremendous pressure to defeat a team, which they were supposed to beat handily. The same expectation at Atlanta had ended in a disastrous 0-1 defeat against the same Argentines.

But what a different story it was this time with the Indians roaring of to a thumping 3-0 victory. What was most heartening was at half time the Indians had just had one penalty corner and they wonder they had converted. Sameer Dad and Mukesh Kumar were the heroes splitting the three goals between them. Also Jude Menezes was rock solid in the goal.

After this auspicious start the toughest test loomed large in the shape of the formidable Aussies who were trying to shake off their Olympic bogey. But Mukesh gave the Indians a dream start with a breath-taking goal beating the Aussie custodian with a acute angled goal.

The Indians came out of the match the better team and also with one extremely crucial point, which will as the tournament progresses prove very vital. With Spain losing surprisingly against lowly Poland things look very good for India.

The real clincher for India so far has been the ability of the players other than Dhanraj Pillay to score goals. Dhanraj being the lynchpin of the Indian attack will be constantly under water tight marking (as was done by the Koreans) and it certainly helps if players like Mukesk Kumar, Dad and Baljit Singh Dhillon can take advantage of the open spaces created due to the attention that Dhanraj attracts.

After such a good start the Indians are favourites to end up in the top two positions of their group. The loss against Korea in the third match may have been bit of a dampener. But, the Indians can take heart from the fact that they had done very well in the first two matches.

The Indians will have to take the next two matches against Spain and Poland very seriously. They will have to ensure that they get the full points from both the matches to ensure that they at least make it to the semi-finals.

A first game victory in the Olympics after 12 years, first time avoiding a defeat against the Aussies on the Olympic scene after 24 years. Are we looking at a possible gold medal after 20 years.

You still never know!