Indian hockey team might have missed the chance of lifting the Asia Cup but the way they entered into the finals of the tournament was something that must have reignited the hopes in the hearts of millions of fans that this team can surely bring lots of laurels with their brilliant stick work in the near future.

Strikers in Ramandeep Singh and Mandeep Singh have paired really well and are complementing each other whenever they are on the attack against the defence of the opposition. Despite having inexperienced attack in these two powerful strikers, India were able to keep the pressure on almost every team they played, which shows that this duo can be much more lethal as they will play more matches in near future.

India have experienced skipper in Sardar Singh who is there in the mid-field and is the key player for India as he has that ability of not just to dodge the opposition, but also to formulate the counter attacks in no time.

Sardar wasn't quite well during the group match against South Korea, but his presence at the centre was still quite obvious. The way he binds the whole team together is remarkable but it is high time when coach Roelant Oltmans should start looking up to some other players like Manpreet Singh and SK Uthappa who could just accompany Indian skipper in strengthening the mid-field and make things much simpler for the strikers, who have the ability to improve with experience.

 

India at present have a brilliant custodian of the goal in P Sreejesh, who was the real hero for India’s winning run till the finals. His ability to make those quick decisions, especially in the league match against South Korea and in the semi-final was absolutely commendable. He covered up for whatever loophole Indian defence was playing with throughout this tournament.

 

The Indian team were quite consistent in the tournament. Though short of inexperience, their brilliant run till the finals and conceding just few goals throughout the course of the tournament do suggest that this team can do wonders under the coaching and captaincy of Oltmans and Sardar respectively.

By Amit Chopra