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THIS MAY BE "1983" INDIAN HOCKEY
HARENDRA SINGH, COACH
A World Cup in front of his audience is special. As India gets closer to its first game, the excitement is palpable. This Indian team has a great mix of youth and experience. The average age is in their early twenties, perfect for competitive hockey. Although they are younger than many teams at this World Cup, this very factor may prove to be their benefit. There is experience in the form of Sreejesh, Kothajit, Harmanpreet, Manpreet, Birendra Lakra, who will form the core and lead the game, while the young players will use their speed, intensity and exuberance to win the ball. , launch counterattacks and fall when needed. It is hoped that this World Cup will be an agent of change for Indian hockey, like the 1983 Cricket World Cup for Indian Cricket. For this to happen, we must also iron out our flaws. We must treat each match fairly, as it was our last game. In a tournament like the World Cup, every result counts if you want to progress in stages. So we have to take one game at a time and enjoy our time on the field while ensuring that each player delivers at its optimum level. So, whether you are in Bhubaneswar or not, encourage us so that we can do what needs to be done.
THIS IS FOR HOCKEY AT HOME
HARMANPREET SINGH, DRAGFLICKER
A few months before the Junior World Cup in Lucknow, our national camp was held at an altitude training center in Shilaroo. Coach Harendra Singh gave us an exercise – write who would play if we reached the final. I wrote Belgium. It was a team you had to rely on and which is definitely a great power of hockey now. And while there was this constant fear of how the people who supported us would react if we lost, wanting to win in front of the local crowd overwhelmed that fear. Having experienced this at the Junior World Cup, I would give everything to recreate it in Bhubaneswar. We thought, as junior players, that a good performance at the Junior World Cup would be the stepping stone of our international hockey career. Now that many of us, members of the Junior World Cup team, have found a place in the senior team, it's about building our individual game. It's now our chance to become a legend of the game.
ALL ARE EQUAL ON THE FIELD
KRISHAN BAHADUR PATHAK, GUARDIAN
Usually the second goalkeeper does not have the chance to play, but I was lucky this year because I replaced PR Sreejesh in the third and fourth quarters. The learning has been invaluable. My advantage is that I also share a room with Sreejesh. Even though he has a lot to learn from him on the pitch, living in the same room helps me understand how to prepare before a match – for example, how to tackle a match against a tough team. Having a senior to advise us is essential. It's always a bit difficult for juniors when we enter the senior team. I had problems calling the names of the elderly on the ground. You are aware of respect and I will call them "paaji" in the field, which did not help the team. Seniors have stressed that we do not do this and that we are equal when we play. The fact that seniors like Sreejesh and Manpreet are not laid back and ready to share their experience is very helpful.
PLAY AS IF IT'S PRACTICAL
NILAKANTA SHARMA, MIDFIELDER
Playing in the midfield with Manpreet Singh is an experience in itself. As juniors, we are often agitated when we make mistakes and this can often turn against us, but Manpreet makes sure that we do not feel that way and that he always shares his own rookie experience. At the Asian Champions Trophy, his experience also helped us keep calm and focus on the sport. I think we improved our work a lot in tandem and he gave me a rule to follow: "Play as if it was the practice and everything would be fine." When we joined the club, we treated him as a senior and once hesitated to express him, but now he is more of a friend, which really helped me. I am excited and the feeling is magnified compared to the Junior World Cup because playing in front of the public is a huge responsibility. I only want that I play for the team and hope that we can implement all the game plans developed by our coaches.
RELATED FOR VICTORY
MANDEEP SINGH, STRIKE
An important element of our success in the Junior World Cup was the confidence we shared in the team, on and off the field. When we joined the camp, coach Harendra Singh said, "Nobody comes from different states but you are all a unit playing for one team – India." He assured that we developed a connection with everyone. This meant that we were not allowed to eat with the only players in our state. It was mandatory to interact with all players. Our rooms at the national camp have been allocated so that already friendly players are allowed to stay with each other. Small things, like ordering food for everyone's eating habits, have helped to create links off the field. Now, senior players ensure that juniors are treated the same way as everyone and have a platform at team meetings to voice their concerns and opinions, which would help improve our performance. The lessons learned during the Junior World Cup days helped us cope with the pressure of being a member of the senior team. The expectations are greater, the concentration and the commitment required huge.
Here is some information about the 2018 World Cup:
India will face Belgium, Canada and South Africa in Group C.
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