Penalty-corners key to India's Olympics medal hopes: Rasquinha

IMAGE: India, boasting an impressive eight Olympic gold medals, but settling for a bronze in the Tokyo Games, finds itself in a challenging Pool B at the Paris Games. Photograph: Hockey India

Legendary India hockey captain Viren Rasquinha has laid out a clear challenge for the national men's team as they set their sights on a Paris Olympics medal. He believes that indiscipline in conceding penalty-corners is a major hurdle India must overcome if they want to reach the podium.

India, boasting an impressive eight Olympic gold medals, but settling for a bronze in the Tokyo Games, finds itself in a challenging Pool B at Paris.

They meet defending champions Belgium, powerhouses Australia and Argentina, along with New Zealand and Ireland.

"The team has been giving away far too many penalty-corners," Rasquinha pointed out during a discussion, hosted by the Sports Journalists Association of Mumbai.

"Defence isn't just about the four defenders; it starts from the moment you lose possession. Every player, from the forwards down, becomes the first line of defence."

Rasquinha emphasized the importance of collective responsibility.

"You win as a team and defend as a team. Every player has a role to play, no matter how briefly they're on the field," he stressed.

He acknowledged the critical role of goalkeeper P R Sreejesh and the defensive unit, particularly Harmanpreet Singh, in crunch moments.

"A strong defense and a phenomenal keeper are essential for winning tournaments. The pressure will be immense on Sreejesh and Harmanpreet's defensive setup to hold the line firm."

Rasquinha urged India to capitalize on their strengths, citing the contrasting styles of Australia and Germany.

"Australia is a force because they constantly rotate players, keeping a high tempo with fresh legs sprinting all over the field. We can't win playing a slow, European style like Germany, whose strength is ball possession," he explained.

"Our strategy should be to disrupt our opponents with a faster pace."

While commending coach Craig Fulton for having his preferred squad, Rasquinha did highlight a potential shortcoming.

"The coach deserves to have his chosen team, especially in hockey where stats are less prominent. However, considering the potential quarter-final match-ups against powerhouses like Holland, Germany, Spain or Great Britain, a single miss in the squad selection could be costly."

Despite the challenges, Rasquinha remains optimistic about India's chances.

"This team has the experience and expertise to succeed, especially with Harmanpreet's exceptional drag-flicking skills. If they can address the penalty-corner issue and play to their strengths, a medal in Paris is a real possibility."