Chock-a-block history of choke-tales

In the same tournament, the Indians had earlier allowed Australia to equalise 2-2 in the last eight minute of the match. The loss was equally big in the ’99 Asia Cup semi-final at Kuala Lumpur when the Koreans struck two goals in the last six minutes to seal the fate of India when they were leading 3-2.

India, returning to top-level hockey after six years in the Champions Trophy here, were on the brink of scoring a sensational win over the Dutch in their first match. They were leading 3-2 but conceded a penalty corner goal with two minutes to go and it changed the complexion of the match.

Again, in the match against defending champions Germany, the Indians were set to share the spoils at 2-2 but the loose defence and goalkeeping left them high and dry.

This has been a chronic problem with Indian hockey that seeks an urgent remedy. Former Olympic captain Pargat Singh was furious after the Germany match when a pathetic display towards the finish saw everyone react sharply.

Pargat says: ‘‘The Germans had seven penalty corners in the match. The team and the coach should have read the situation and have worked out a plan to stop them scoring.’’

While Indian chief coach Rajinder Singh admits ‘‘it was a pressure situation and the goalkeeper Devesh Chauhan couldn’t handle it’’ Dutch coach Joost Bellaart feels the lapse is part of the game and it is difficult to control the emotion of the players throughout the match.

But former German coach and a member of the prestigious FIH coaches’ panel, Horst Wein, says the problem continues to stalk Indian hockey because they do no pay enough attention on their preparation for the critical moments of the game.

These vital moments, he names, are the start of the game, the minutes before the break and the final minutes.

‘‘A different brand of hockey should be played in this phase,’’ suggests Wein. And adds that India’s problem remains because they indulge in a lot of attractive play whereas they should also pay attention to playing ‘‘effective hockey’’ at times.

The former German coach says that the Indian players should have been given pre-set instructions on what to do in critical moments against Germany and the Dutch. ‘‘The coach should give precise information to the players and inform them so that the team can play effectively when that moment comes.’’

Wein says the Indians could have come closer to the German defence or probably even tried to disturb the rhythm of the rival players in the midfield. Wein, considered one of the greatest thinkers of modern hockey and currently monitoring the coaching programme of the South American Football Association, has a word of support for the Indian coach. He says: ‘‘Our coaches are aware of the last minute weakness of the Indian team because they have been given the opportunity to stay in their job for long and observe other teams. But since Indian coaches are changed frequently, there is no time for them to make any proper assessment.’’

It sums up the problem.