Keyed up Mukesh seeks new high

“After all, we had won the Asian Games gold (only the second in history) after 32 years. I repeatedly told Dhanraj, `We’re going on a high note.’ Now that both of us are back in the team, we will definitely give our best.”

One aspect that has dogged the Indian hockey team in the recent past is that of captaincy. But Mukesh set aside any talk of disappointment in not being named captain (after all Pillay and he are the senior most players in the side). “It doesn’t really matter as to who is the captain. I have always seen hockey as a team sport and in a team, every player is as important as the other,” he said.

“Whether it is Ramandeep (Singh — the present skipper) or (Mohammed) Riaz or Pillay, what matters is how the other players rally around the skipper. And I will certainly not involve in petty things against the team’s cause. If I am in the team, my captain will get the best from me, irrespective of who he is,” he promised.

As for India’s chances at the Sydney Games, Mukesh has this to say: “I must concede our mistakes of the past at the outset. At Barcelona, following the amazing success on the European tour preceding the Olympics, we were over-confident. I would even say we were a little complacent. And at Atlanta, with the thought of us being the most talented line-up in the fray, we were a little casual. As you see, it was nothing but complacency that cost us the match against Argentina (when India lost 0-1). In the final analysis, as for the Atlanta Games, I think that defeat cost us a place in the semifinals.”

“But this time, we have a fairly easy draw. Winning against one of the three big names in our group — Australia, South Korea and Spain and draws against the other two should help us make the semifinal grade. But at the same time, I am not saying we should take South Africa and Poland (the other two teams) easy. Play at your best against every team is my recipe for India’s success this time at the Olympics,” was his parting shot.