Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Indian hockey team is at its peak form' that was published in Newsband

Indian hockey team is at its peak form

For four years the Indian hockey team finished last. But they won silver medals at the elite Champions Trophy. It was an indicator of how much India has advanced before going into Olympics. In the finals, the team lost in a shootout, but holding World Champion Australia goalless for 60 minutes was in itself commendable.

The reason for our victory was that despite the exit of several coaches in the past, the team always had a good trainer to ensure that fitness did not suffer.

The team’s improved fitness is noticeable. Every Indian player was so fit that he could keep pace with an Australian in the final. Now the members of our team can believe that they belong to the top order. The team not only changed its entire game-plan but also stifled Australia by sheer dint of stamina and willpower.

It was undoubtedly an amazing show put up by the young Indian hockey team at Champions Trophy. Hope to see this vigour in Olympics too. The present Indian hockey team has it in them to win against any team.

Thus The nine-day drama of the 36th Champion Trophy from 10 to 18 June concluded in London on a positive note for Indian hockey as they despite emerging the runner-ups got Aussies under their skin throughout the regulation time that ended goalless as either team could score no goal and finally, the match was decided on penalty shootout in Australia’s favour by 3-1. This moral-booster will simply stand Indian hockey squad in good stead at the Rio Olympics towards the end of the year.

The Indian hockey team in the past has won medals nine times in Olympics. Hockey is the only game next to athletic where we won gold medals in Olympics. Such an amazing game was dead in the intermittent stage and now it started glittering and we won Silver Medal after losing to Australia narrowly in the finals. Thus we proved that we were competent enough to be in the reckoning for a medal in Olympics.

When there is no politics in the team selection and there is good player-coach relationship and enthusiasm and team spirit coupled with patriotism, India stands a chance to win medals in any hockey tournament, may it be Olympics too. But partiality and favouritism should be avoided in Indian sports and this will enable India reach the pinnacle in this National Game. The spirit of Indian hockey team is undoubtedly high this time. There is no doubt about the fact that our team at present is in its peak form.