Playing as team secret of our success: Carvalho

Chennai, Sep 9 (UNI) Chief Coach of Indian men's hockey team Joachim Carvalho today said the resounding win in the Asia Cup final against Korea here today was the result of the team playing as a unit and without fear to use its skills.

''It is good to win a third tournament. The team is in good physical condition,'' said Carvalho in a post-match press conference.

The former Olympian, who took over from V Bhaskaran as the coach after the Doha Asian Games last year had guided India to three podium finishes, said ''We played a more tactical game today. We knew how to play them after the win in the league phase.'' Carvalho also said the team had now got over the jinx of losing back to back matches. ''We lost three back to back.'' Carvalho said he would now focus on the qualifying tournament for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The Asia Cup this year was recognised as a ranking tournament, offering points.

''I think we can win the Olympic qualifying tourney,'' he added striking a confident note.

Asked about his players like Prabhjot and goalkeeper Baljit Singh, he said senior players had shown that they had been improving while the skilful juniors were coming good.

Speaking with the help of an interpreter, Korean team coach Cho Myung Jun said although it was India who played better in terms of skills, his team was handicapped by the fact that eight of its players were suffering from diarrhoea and had been taking treatment.

However, the reason for the team's three-minute protest by walking off the field in the second half was against the umpire disallowing a goal by his team which was down 3-1.

''That goal could have made it 2-3 for us but the umpire said it was outside the D,'' he pointed out.

Cho Myung also ruled out any protest by his team to the organising committee and the tournament director, who persuaded the team to take the field and continue playing.

UNI