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The Real test begins for India with challenge against Netherlands
For the Indian men's hockey team, 2019 mostly went on pursuing their Olympics aspirations. And now, with the dream of qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics is met, some serious preparatory action lies ahead of Manpreet & Co. before they play at the grandest sporting stage. With the FIH Pro Men's Hockey League kickstarting for the Indian team tomorrow, there won't be a better course to prepare for Tokyo.
Missing out on a berth from the Asian Games in 2018, the Indian team took a longer route -- FIH Series Finals and FIH Olympic Qualifiers -- to book their ticket for the Summer Olympics and after playing comparatively easier draws, big challenges are thrown at them.
After commencing the challenge with the Netherlands, the Men in Blue will take on the world champions Belgium, followed by World No.1 Australia at home. India will then travel to Germany and England before returning to host New Zealand. The team will again travel for away legs against the current Olympic champions Argentina and Spain. Starting tomorrow, India will play all the World's top nine teams till June 14, a month before the Olympics. Australia, Argentina, Spain and New Zealand are in India's pool at the Olympics, besides hosts Japan. In the FIH Pro League, all nine teams will play each other twice, making it a total of 16 matches. The team with the most number of points will be the winner.
India and Netherlands meet in Odisha again
Last time India faced World no. 3 Netherlands was at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar during the occasion of a World Cup quarter-final. Since the 2-1 defeat against the Dutch heavyweights, India barely played against any other stronger teams. Though the side toured Australia and Belgium in May last year, the hosts fielded second-string squads, with the latter fielding their U-21 squad.
Excitement is soaring sky-high with India and Netherlands are ready to face off again at the same venue in the opening match in the second season of FIH Men’s Pro League. Accepting that it's not as high-voltage a match like the World Cup quarterfinals, the entire stretch of Pro League will allow the coaches to determine the best 16 for their teams who will be going to the Olympics.
The Indian team has gained a major boost ahead of their first encounter as their veteran talismanic midfielder Chinglensana Singh back in the squad. He can prove to be a vital cog for the team and it will be interesting to watch how coach Graham Reid uses him for the first team. Chinglensana on his return quipped, “I am happy to earn the India jersey again. It is important for me to make this opportunity count and give my 100 per cent in the midfield. With a good talent pool available, every player has to prove his place in the team and I am no different. I see this as a fresh start for me and I am looking forward to a good start against the Netherlands,”
Chinglensana was on the sidelines since the ninth Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2019 (A Division) in February where he led the Railways team to victory. He had suffered an ankle fracture in the final. The 23-year-old Sumit suffered a wrist injury in June during the FIH Men's Series Final where India beat South Africa in the summit clash. The team also includes experienced goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, Krishan B Pathak, Gurinder Singh, Amit Rohidas, Surender Kumar and Birendra Lakra. Vivek Sagar Prasad, Nilakanta Sharma too has received a call-up.
Striker Gurjant Singh has also been rewarded with a place in the team for his commitment and hard work shown in the national coaching camp. Gurjant will join SV Sunil, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Mandeep Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Gursahibjit Singh and Kothajit Singh Khadangbam in the forward line. With Sunil having returned to the team last year, the team has found more depth. One would miss Simranjeeet Singh against the Dutch, who had impressed in the World Cup quarter-final by opening up space for others.
Eyes would be on Rupinder Pal Singh and Harmanpreet Singh on penalty corner conversions, even though India has Amit Rohidas as the third flicker.
Since, Graham Reid's appointment as the coach, he has introduced a pressing tactic to put pressure on the opponent from the beginning. However, the Indian forward line will be tested against the mighty Pirmin Blaak as the Dutch bulwark in the goal. Besides, playing all out can also expose the team's defence during fast counter-attacks by the Netherlands. Against, Max Caldas' side, Reid's men have to be cautious going all out.
"We have chosen a relatively experienced team to take on the Netherlands this weekend in Bhubaneswar. While Varun Kumar will be back in training this week after suffering a nerve injury during the Olympic Qualifiers, he wasn't able to be considered for selection," said India's chief coach Graham Reid when asked about the team he has chosen for the Netherlands side.
A look at the Dutch opponent
After acclimatising in Malaysia, the Netherlands team arrived in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday. Coach Max Caldas, who is a revered as a master of the art, however, is cautious to take on India in own den. Captain Billy Bakker, one of the hockey greats of our time, will be the key man of the opponent who India will target to restrict in building up the game. Though other important players like Robbert Kemperman, Terrance Pieters and Sander Baart are out of the squad for injury, centre-forward Mirco Pruisjer, winger Jeroen Hertzberger, will pose major threats to the Indian defence.
Captain Bakker has also the experience of playing under the Indian coach Graham Reid, who was in charge of the Dutch team earlier as the assistant coach. Caldas and India chief coach Graham Reid know each other's style, having worked together previously.
"Graham is a very experienced coach and he is very clear about the process and the kind of hockey he expects from his players. I expect India to be as competitive as always," said Caldas, who is from Argentina. Like many other teams taking part in the Pro League, Caldas also believes that competing here is a good preparation for the Tokyo Olympics.
Starting tomorrow the FIH Pro League will serve as perfect platform for teams to find their balance and make their combinations right ahead of the Olympics. The first game of the two-match tie between India and the Netherlands is scheduled for 7 PM IST on Saturday (January 18), followed by the second one at 5 PM. IST on Sunday (January 19). The will be telecast on the Star Sports Network. Live streaming will be available on Hotstar.
Indian Team
- P R Sreejesh (GK)
- Krishan Bahadur Pathak (GK)
- Harmanpreet Singh
- Gurinder Singh
- Amit Rohidas
- Surender Kumar
- Birendra Lakra
- Rupinder Pal Singh
- Manpreet Singh (C)
- Vivek Sagar Prasad
- Chinglensana Singh
- Nilakanta Sharma
- Sumit
- Gurjant Singh
- S V Sunil
- Lalit Kumar Upadhyay
- Mandeep Singh
- Akashdeep Singh
- Gursahibjit Singh
- Kothajit Singh Khadangbam
Netherlands Team
- Jeroen Hertzberger
- Lars Balk
- Jonas de Geus
- Billy Bakker (C)
- Seve Van Ass
- Valentin Verga
- Glenn Schuurman
- Diede van Puffelen
- Mirco Pruijser
- Bjorn Kellerman
- Bob de Voogd
- Sam van der Ven (GK)
- Joep de Mol
- Thierry Brinkman
- Pirmin Blaak (GK)
- Jip Janssen
- Floris Wortelboer
- Mink van der Weerden
