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Coach Bansal sounds optimistic

Special Correspondent

Traditionally, Argentina has always hustled India
The Indian colts won the recent Nehru tournament

NEW DELHI: Noted coach A.K. Bansal believes the journey for renaissance of Indian hockey begins in right earnest with a two-week tour to Argentina. “I may sound too ambitious but I am optimistic we have the material. It only needs direction,” said Mr. Bansal on the eve of the 20-member junior team’s departure.

The hockey fraternity was stung by the ignominy of India failing to qualify for the Beijing Olympics but a second-place finish at the Azlan Shah tournament in Kuala Lumpur had come as a “relief,” according to Mr. Bansal. “When most were disillusioned with the game, we did well in the Azlan Shah tournament. Now I am placing all my faith in these lads.”

No better stage

The tour to Argentina, the first by an Indian team, is part of the junior team’s campaign for the World Cup to be held in June next year. As Mr. Bansal emphasised, there could not have been a better stage to test the potential of the junior players than an assignment in Argentina.

Traditionally, Argentina has always hustled India. “For many reasons. They play tough hockey, like football, and there is lot of body play involved. The earlier our youngsters combat such an opponent and pick up some lessons the better,” stressed Mr. Bansal.

The Indian juniors, who went through a month-long preparatory camp at Bhopal, missed a scheduled short trip to Pakistan a fortnight ago because of security reasons. “We had to return from Amritsar but we played the Nehru tournament as Indian Colts to make up for the loss,” Mr. Bansal said.

Outstanding show

The team came up with an outstanding performance, winning all its seven matches as it won the Nehru tournament. “We knocked in 24 goals and the most heartening aspect was the 15 field goals we scored. At the preparatory camps, we have concentrated on scoring field goals and also on not conceding goals. It is an area that has often let us down as we tend to concede some easy goals,” he said.

In Mr. Bansal’s opinion, the feature of this team is the absence of an Olympian. “We are focusing on developing the team and that can happen only if we do not include any eligible senior or an Olympian.”

Other than the four Tests against Argentina, the Indian juniors will play a match against the Netherlands too.

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