India’s interim coach Roelant Oltmans knows that the upcoming Asia Cup men’s hockey tournament in Ipoh, Malaysia — a qualification event for the World Cup next year — could be make or break for his young squad.
So far, no Asian team has qualified for the mega-event, and the competition will be intense with just the winners going through.
“I am a realistic person,” said Oltmans here as his squad played a practice game against a combined ONGC-PNB XI.
“I know a lot is expected of us, and I know what will happen if we don’t (qualify), but I am very, very realistic.
“Every tournament starts from opponent no. 1, and for us that is Oman on August 24. I have had six weeks to prepare this team, and the players are working very, very hard. That is all that is in my hands.”
India, who have put in place a new structure under the experienced Dutchman, will be taking the field without four of their main players — Gurvinder Singh Chandi, S.V. Sunil, Akashdeep Singh and Danish Mujtaba — all out with injury.
Oltmans conceded that a couple of youngsters could make their debut at the all-important event.
“We have to invest in youth and you will see some new faces in the Asia Cup team. Players like Mandeep Singh, Amit Rohidas and Pradeep Mor, are very good. Mor has been scoring a lot of goals too. And we might have them in the final 18,” he said.
A lot of talk has centred around the importance of the eight-nation tournament and its implications if India miss out on a World Cup berth for the first time. Oltmans said the only way out was to get rid of pressure.
“My boys are not under pressure,” he said. “They have been told that there is only person who will be responsible and that is me. I will take the pressure, and their job is to play a good game of hockey. If they succeed in that, we do not have to worry.”
Poor defence has been India’s bane in top tournaments, but goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh said “everyone was now very clear about his role.”
“Things are working to a plan now,” Sreejesh said. “Earlier, the players were at times confused (on their roles), but now each one of us knows what is expected of us, individually and in terms of team work.
“That should change things for us.”
Skipper Sardar Singh said the team were focused on the task and the youngsters were responding well.
“A lot of planning has gone into what we need to do to win the Asia Cup. There have been changes in playing patterns, and we have prepared accordingly.”