INDIA VS CHINA 12th May 2009 Kuantan Malaysia By Alka C Mehta

I happen to witness India vs china hockey match at Kuantan on 12 May 09 .Defending champion India had to win to qualify for semi final and china had to draw for Asia cup . India drew the match and went out of contention for semi final. Here are the reasons for Indians to draw the match Warming up before the match trainer When we arrived at Kuantan stadium Indian team was training in afternoon heat at 1430 hrs, Trainer was making players run in swapping heat . Chinese were not even on the field. In the second half of the match, Indians were running low on energy and Chinese were all over on field. Indian s were huffing and puffing on field and slowing down to catch their breadth .For each Indian player there were 2 Chinese players. .Thats where match was being lost.

Indians warming up really hard in heat before the match and no Chinese players on the pitch for warm up,

On Indian coach Harendra Singh Every time his strategy is to attack and attack and attack. Very good strategy but we have one question does he tells his players how to attack????/ As usual Every time Indian loose or draw, he blasted his team for not playing attacking hockey. After this match, he blasted his team for not playing attacking hockey. I do not agree with him. India did play attacking hockey; even in last 50 sec India had PC. However Indians ran out of ideas how to penetrate Great Wall of China. What were Indian coach alternative here is one - he however made Dhanraj Pillay to shout from Indian bench stand that boys put your sticks in. Does coach tell player how to attack? It was obvious from first match between Pakistan and china that Chinese do not give space to forwards. Indians were on that attack many times but that could not break Chinese defense. Did Indian coach devise any plan to break Chinese defense. I do not think so. Indian forward had no clue. All Indian Attack are from left or right flank, Chinese are aware of that, they simply had to block side lines and Indian forwards are clueless. Penalty corner Capt. Sandeep Singh scored first two goals by drag flicking ball to left high of Chinese goal keeper in first half. On 4th PC in last minutes, when Sandeep Singh was taking the flick, I said to myself, come on Sandeep do not flick on left of goal keeper. Sandeep did flick on left and Chinese GK was ready and he had raised his left hand in anticipation even before ball left Sandeep Stick and goal was saved. We all think coach is answerable for that. On Chinese Goals Although when Indian were leading 2-1 and Pc was saved by Indians a unnecessary foul was committed just out side the striking circle and hit was awarded to Chinese and ball was hit in the circle after back pass . There were eight Indians in striking circle and four Chinese. Still ball went between Indian defenders and one of the Chinese moved and he had to only goal keeper to beat with simplest of the task in the world for equalizing goal. Even the first goal was a result of PC and ball rolled in slow motion over the goal line as whole Indian defense watched as if frozen. Indian hockey needs drastic changes and it has to come at fast pace, just like ball on hockey pitch. Other wise we will need to content with qualifier only.