Indian think-tank needs a re-think

Despite India finishing the league phase without losing any game, the performance on the field was far from convincing. While the first two ...

Despite India finishing the league phase without losing any game, the performance on the field was far from convincing. While the first two games against Japan and Hong Kong did not exactly test our players, the 1-1 draw against Korea highlighted the areas in which the Indian think-tank needs to look at.

The deficiencies that led to India finishing behind Korea in their pool are: no cohesiveness in the forwardline; loose marking; poor penalty corner conversion and lack of imagination in the think-tank.

The tactical weaknesses has been too glaring as the same set of players, who sizzled in the Champions Trophy at Cologne, have suddenly lost their sparks. Unlike the World Cup or the Champions Trophy, the competition at the Asiad is relatively easy and the semifinal slots have traditonally been decided among India, Korea, Pakistan and Malaysia.

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This time, the Indians were pooled with Korea, Japan and Hong Kong but look at what the two pool contenders have acheived: Korea topped with seven points, scoring 19 goals, conceding two while defending champions India couldn’t even score half the number of goals from as many matches (9 scored, two conceded). Korea pipped India for a comfortable opponent in the semifinals on the basis of better goal average.

Any think-tank would avoid a pressure-cooker situation if it can afford to. Clearly, Rajinder Singh didn’t have proper plans to avoid those extra sweat for the players. It is not the fear of facing a tension-ridden match against the arch-rival but playing like champions in the pool would have done a world of good to the morale of the youngsters in the team, which has probably loads of talent but unfortunately does not get pearls of wisdom from the sideline!

Result: India-Korea 1-1
Scorers: Jong Ha Jeon (Korea, 4th minute); Daljit Singh Dhillon (India, 45th minute)

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