New Delhi, Sept 20: The signs are ominous. It is not even a year since India won the Asian Games hockey gold in Bangkok, but those images of victory today are like dreams from a distant past. Indian hockey has hit rock bottom, and the former champions are now the favourite whipping boys of hockey world.The latest thrashing at the hands of South Korea, Australia and even Canada at the four-nation tournament in Canberra has exposed the side's lack of tenacity. Ever since the February purge, when six top players were dropped from the side, Indians have been steadily slipping down the performance ladder.A look at India's report card this year says all. They were beaten comprehensively by Pakistan in the Test series; and then were thrashed by Germany. The series win over lowly-placed Belgium was followed by an ignominous series defeat against South Africa, who only this week confirmed their Sydney berth by winning the African Games gold medal. And the latest in the string of humiliating defeats came inAustralia.Surprisingly, these defeats have failed to shake up the powers-that-be. All one has heard in the past few months are excuses. In South Africa, it was `umpiring'. In Australia, it is `poor conditions', whatever that meant. Apparently, the team coaches and officials forget the conditions are the same for both sides.South Korea, who lost to India in the Asian Games final have bounced back. They entered the final of Champions Trophy, and have now finished second, behind a resurgent Canada in Australia.The common refrain of the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) is that the team is in a process of rebuilding. But `rebuilding' of this nature can be counter-productive, as it seems to be the case with the Indian team. The selectors have tried several new faces to make up for thir unjustified sacking of Dhanraj Pillay and Mukesh Kumar. But the old failing of `inability to score' keeps rearing its head every now and then.The recent defeats have only underlined that we have no replacements for Pillay,Mukesh or goal-keeper Ashish Ballal. While Pillay and Ballal are paying the price for raising their voice against the IHF supremo KPS Gill, Mukesh seems to a victim of his own making. He rebels, he apologises, he rebels. But that's another story.The temperamental Pillay is lying low these days, hoping for a recall. If the state of Indian hockey continues to be what it is right now, Pillay may ultimately get that phone call he is waiting for. But for Ballal it seems to be the end of the road, as Gill has said. That despite an ageing Edward Aloysius (who is 31 as compared to Ballal's 29) and an inconsistent Jude Menezes just not delivering.The forwards have not been scoring and the goalkeepers are fumbling; and the normally solid midfield now wears an uncertain look. Add to that the clueless coach, who has still not worked out a strategy for penalty corners, either scoring or defending them.`Supercop' Gill has maintained that fitness is of prime importance in modern hockey. But if reports from Canberraare any indication, Indians lacked even that. They ran out of steam in the last quarter of every match.Meanwhile, the battered Indians move on to Sydney for the second leg of the four-nation engagement.
