Hockey team's performance exceeded expectations

The performance of the Indian hockey team in the four-nation tournament in the Netherlands and the Champions Trophy in Germany exceeded the expectations, chief coach Rajinder Singh said.

"We had earmarked certain areas like penalty corners and man-to-man marking and we did improve in those areas. Our penalty corner conversion was 50 percent," Rajinder Singh told reporters after the team returned from a 20-day trip in Europe here yesterday.

India held Holland 3-3 in the six-nation Champions Trophy, which was creditable as it came close on the 2-5 defeat to the same team at Amstelveen earlier in the Rabobank Trophy. The team then lost to Germany 2-3 but went on to beat Australia 3-2.

In both the matches against the European superpowers, India conceded goals in the closing stages when they were in a winning position.

"Bad marking," captain Dilip Tirkey said bluntly.

But Rajinder Singh defended his players. "Look, teams are now playing very fast hockey. Goals are scored in no time, it does not matter what stage of the match they come," he said.

The highlight of the Cologne tournament without doubt was the clash of the two Asian giants and arch rivals India and Pakistan. India won the first match 3-2 but Pakistan avenged the defeat in the bronze medal play-off with a dramatic come-from-behind 4-3 victory.

"We had to win that match (the league match against Pakistan) to make it to the top three position, that's what motivated us to go for all out attack," Tirkey said.

"We played as a team, the inexperienced players gelled well. That was the plus point. The forwards were brilliant, and so were the defenders and Devesh Chauhan (at the goal mounth)," he added.

The captain had a special mention for Dhanraj Pillay, who was named Player of the Tournament after his dazzling performance proved once again that, at the age of 35, he was still a force to reckon with at the international level.

"Dhanraj combined very well with the youngsters like Gagan Ajit Singh, he kept creating chances for the forwards," Tirkey said.

The team however suffered a reverse losing to Korea in the last league match.

"The Korea match was inconsequential as we had already qualified for the bronze medal match. So we tried out a few new things and gave chance to fringe players," Rajinder Singh said.

The team will assemble again in New Delhi on September 14 for a preparatory camp for the Busan Asian Games.

Champions Trophy 2002: The Complete Coverage