This piece was published in Sportskeeda
These are difficult times for the Indian men’s hockey team. Desperate times call for desperate measures goes the saying and the national team have no option but to summon desperate measures in a last-ditch effort to seal a berth in the 2014 World Cup by winning the upcoming 9th Asia Cup.
And for one man – Maharaj Krishan Kaushik – who has weathered many tough times in his playing and coaching career, it is a big-time opportunity to play a part in helping India book a ticket to the 2014 World Cup. “I’m elated to have been given the opportunity by Hockey India (HI) to contribute in some way in helping the Indian team win the Asia Cup and cement our place in the World Cup,” the national team's assistant coach Kaushik says in an exclusive interview.
The 58-year-old, who was part of the 1980 Moscow Olympics gold-winning team as well a member of the 1982 Asia Cup silver-winning team, concedes that the pressure will be on India to deliver. “No doubt the boys will feel the pressure given the fact that this is our last opportunity to seal our World Cup, but I have no doubts that the boys have what it takes to handle such pressure,” he says.
The former speedy right winger, who also played in the 1982 World Cup in Mumbai, says he has enjoyed working closely with head coach Roelant Oltmans who is also Hockey India’s High Performance Manager. “Roelant Oltmans is a famed coach with world-class credentials. I don’t even have to say it, the hockey world knows him. I’m trying to help the team in whatever capacity I can,” he says.
Kaushik, who first served as the Indian women’s team coach from 1991-1994 and then again from 1994-2008, says the team have showed improvement under Michael Nobbs. “I think the team did show improvement in certain areas under Nobbs. It will be unfair to say that the team achieved nothing with Nobbs as coach. We just have to take this team forward with the right strategy,” he quips.
Kaushik retired as Deputy Director of Sports with the Haryana Government. He had attained a fair amount of success as national women’s coach. He guided the Indian hockey eves to a bronze in the 1993 Asia Cup in Hong Kong. Kaushik in his second stint as women’s hockey coach, shepherded the Indian eves to gold in the 2004 Asia Cup in New Delhi. He helped the Indian hockey eves bag a silver in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne as well as a bronze in the 2006 Doha Asiad.
There is so much talk going around about which style of hockey India must adopt – Kaushik feels India has to do what is good for them. “I’m not suggesting that we should stick to a European or Asian style of hockey or Australian way of attacking hockey. All I’m saying is that we should employ a strategy which is in the best interests of the national team,” he explains.
And what about the never-ending talk about whether Indian coaches lack the skills to meet the requirements of modern hockey, as suggested by legendary Aussie Ric Charlesworth? “Ric Charlesworth is a big name in world hockey, he is entitled to his opinion. I think Indian coaches are not lacking in this aspect and can contribute in some capacity or the other,” he chooses his words carefully.
Kaushik, who helped the Indian men’s team to gold in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games, agrees a coach is better off if he has played the game with distinction. “Obviously it is of big help. When you have played the game you are in a better position to understand the psychological demands of the game and how the players have to cope with them,” adds Kaushik, who replaced his 1980 Olympics team captain Vasudevan Bhaskaran as national coach following India’s disastrous 1998 Utrecht World Cup campaign.
The upcoming 9th Asia Cup will see India battle with the likes of Korea, Pakistan and Malaysia for the lone continental berth. Kaushik feels India have the wherewithal to book its flight to Hague. “I know it won’t be easy but we have world-class players to do the job for us. I’m upbeat about our qualifying chances, we will give our best shot, quips the former India player," who has been appointed as assistant coach till the 2016 Rio Olympics.
These are difficult times for the Indian men’s hockey team. Desperate times call for desperate measures goes the saying and the national team have no option but to summon desperate measures in a last-ditch effort to seal a berth in the 2014 World Cup by winning the upcoming 9th Asia Cup.
And for one man – Maharaj Krishan Kaushik – who has weathered many tough times in his playing and coaching career, it is a big-time opportunity to play a part in helping India book a ticket to the 2014 World Cup. “I’m elated to have been given the opportunity by Hockey India (HI) to contribute in some way in helping the Indian team win the Asia Cup and cement our place in the World Cup,” the national team's assistant coach Kaushik says in an exclusive interview.
The 58-year-old, who was part of the 1980 Moscow Olympics gold-winning team as well a member of the 1982 Asia Cup silver-winning team, concedes that the pressure will be on India to deliver. “No doubt the boys will feel the pressure given the fact that this is our last opportunity to seal our World Cup, but I have no doubts that the boys have what it takes to handle such pressure,” he says.
The former speedy right winger, who also played in the 1982 World Cup in Mumbai, says he has enjoyed working closely with head coach Roelant Oltmans who is also Hockey India’s High Performance Manager. “Roelant Oltmans is a famed coach with world-class credentials. I don’t even have to say it, the hockey world knows him. I’m trying to help the team in whatever capacity I can,” he says.
Kaushik, who first served as the Indian women’s team coach from 1991-1994 and then again from 1994-2008, says the team have showed improvement under Michael Nobbs. “I think the team did show improvement in certain areas under Nobbs. It will be unfair to say that the team achieved nothing with Nobbs as coach. We just have to take this team forward with the right strategy,” he quips.
Kaushik retired as Deputy Director of Sports with the Haryana Government. He had attained a fair amount of success as national women’s coach. He guided the Indian hockey eves to a bronze in the 1993 Asia Cup in Hong Kong. Kaushik in his second stint as women’s hockey coach, shepherded the Indian eves to gold in the 2004 Asia Cup in New Delhi. He helped the Indian hockey eves bag a silver in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne as well as a bronze in the 2006 Doha Asiad.
There is so much talk going around about which style of hockey India must adopt – Kaushik feels India has to do what is good for them. “I’m not suggesting that we should stick to a European or Asian style of hockey or Australian way of attacking hockey. All I’m saying is that we should employ a strategy which is in the best interests of the national team,” he explains.
And what about the never-ending talk about whether Indian coaches lack the skills to meet the requirements of modern hockey, as suggested by legendary Aussie Ric Charlesworth? “Ric Charlesworth is a big name in world hockey, he is entitled to his opinion. I think Indian coaches are not lacking in this aspect and can contribute in some capacity or the other,” he chooses his words carefully.
Kaushik, who helped the Indian men’s team to gold in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games, agrees a coach is better off if he has played the game with distinction. “Obviously it is of big help. When you have played the game you are in a better position to understand the psychological demands of the game and how the players have to cope with them,” adds Kaushik, who replaced his 1980 Olympics team captain Vasudevan Bhaskaran as national coach following India’s disastrous 1998 Utrecht World Cup campaign.
The upcoming 9th Asia Cup will see India battle with the likes of Korea, Pakistan and Malaysia for the lone continental berth. Kaushik feels India have the wherewithal to book its flight to Hague. “I know it won’t be easy but we have world-class players to do the job for us. I’m upbeat about our qualifying chances, we will give our best shot, quips the former India player," who has been appointed as assistant coach till the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Hero Junior World Cup: Indian face
England in opening practice game
The Manpreet
Singh-led Indian junior men’s hockey team will take on England in their opening
preparatory game under lights at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium on
Saturday.
The match
will allow the hosts to fine-tune their preparations for the upcoming 10th
Hero Junior World Cup hockey tournament, beginning at the same venue from
December 6.
The hosts
will play their second and final warm-up match against Belgium on December 4.
India will
kickstart their 10th Junior World Cup campaign against formidable
Netherlands on December 6 in a Pool C game – the opening day of the big-ticket
event.
They play
their second match against Canada on December on 7 and their final league tie
against Korea on December 10.
It may be
worth recalling that India had won the Junior World Cup only once in the 2011
edition in Hobart, Australia, where they thumped Argentina 6-1 in the title
clash.
Hockey lovers can book Junior World
Cup tickets alive
The upcoming
10th Hero Junior World Cup hockey tournament, beginning at the Major
Dhyan Chand National Stadium from December 6 is expected to pull in big crowds
given the fact the event is held in our own backyard.
Hockey buffs
can watch the live World Cup action at Major Dhyan Chand National Hockey
Stadium by booking tickets online at www.ticketgenie.in – the official ticketing
partner of the 2013 Hero Hockey Junior World Cup Men.
Tickets will
be priced at Rs 50 for generala admission, while hockey lovers who wish to
avail an VIP seat has to shell out Rs. 1000. Each ticket entitles the spectator
to watch all the matches being held on each day. The Major Dhyan Chand National
Hockey Stadium has the capacity of accommodating around 16,000 spectators.
The
organizers have kept ticket prices lower in a bid to ensure maximum spectator
interest for the big-ticket event.
As many as
16 teams will be slugging it out in the ten-day event, playing 44 matches at
Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.
Pool A
features Germany, Pakistan, Belgium and Egypt, while Australia, Spain,
Argentina and France are competing in Pool B. India is placed in Pool C with
The Netherlands, Korea and Canada will challenge each other in Pool C with
England, New Zealand, South Africa and Malaysia going head to head in Pool D.
India’s league games to be played
under lights
Hockey India
(HI) is taking all care to ensure that the upcoming 10th Junior
World Cup hockey tournament, beginning at the Major Dhyan Chand National
Stadium from December 6, attracts a big draw. The hockey body has scheduled all
the India’s league games – the opening game against the Netherlands on December
6, the second game against Canada on December 7 and the concluding league
fixture against Korea on December 10 – at 8 pm IST to ensure hockey lovers
coming from work are in a position to watch the hosts in action. Of course, it goes
without saying that the timings of the quarterfinal, semifinal and the final
stage is subject to how India fares in the league phase.
It may be
worth recalling that India had won the Junior World Cup only once in the 2011
edition in Hobart, Australia, where they thumped Argentina 6-1 in the title
clash under the captaincy of Gagan Ajit Singh, who happens to be a national
selector now.
SK Uthappa turns 20
Indian
hockey striker SK Uthappa turned 20 today. The Coorg lad was recently marked a
national comeback in the 9th Asia Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia after being
in the wilderness for some time.
It is
interesting to mention that caretaker coach Roelant Oltmans used the London
Olympian as a midfielder in the tourney instead of playing in his natural
forward position.
The IOC
employee dropped from the national team after the 34th FIH Champions
Trophy in Melbourne, Australia in December 2012.
Uthappa
turns out for Uttar Pradesh Wizards in the Hockey India League.
Hockey
Passion wishes SK Uthappa a Very Happy Birthday and hopes the occasion rings in
more success and prosperity in his life.
Chinglensana Singh turns 22 today
Indian
hockey striker Chinglensana Singh turned 22 today. The nippy Manipuri last
played for the senior men’s team in the 9th Asia Cup in Ipoh and was
not part of the team for the 3rd Asian Champions Trophy in
Kakamigahara, Japan, as the national hockey selectors opted to field the
juniors in preparation for the 10th Hero Junior World Cup.
The
diminutive forward, who is employed with Railways, featured in the inaugural
Hero Hockey India League for Mumbai Magicians.
A product of
the Delhi-based Punjab National Bank academy, Chinglensana has also played for
teams like Mumbai Porters and Mumbai Customs.
He made his
senior international debut in the 2011 Asian Champions Trophy in Ordos, China. Hockey
Passion wishes Chinglensana Singh a Very Happy Birthday and hopes the occasion
rings in more success and prosperity in his life.
Indian hockey forward Akashdeep Singh
turns 19
Talented
Indian hockey forward Akashdeep Singh turned 19 today. The ONGC employee, who
played in the 3rd Asian Champions Trophy in Kakamigahara, Japan,
where India finished runners-up losing to Korea narrowly in the final.
The 3rd
Asian Champions Trophy was kind of a comeback for Akashdeep, who pulled out of
the 9th Asia Cup in Ipoh owing to a shin injury.
The
youngster is rated highly by Hockey India High Performance Manager Roelant
Oltmans.
The Delhi
Waveriders striker’s presence in the Indian forwardline will be key in the upcoming
10th Hero Junior World Cup hockey tournament. He is expected to play a pivotal role
upfront.
Hockey
Passion wishes Akashdeep Singh a Very Happy Birthday and hopes the occasion
rings in more success and prosperity in his life.
Indian hockey striker Yuvraj Walmiki
turns 23
Out-of-favour
Indian hockey player Yuvraj Walmiki turned 23 today. The talented Mumbai
youngster has been out of the national team since last wearing the blueshirt at
the 34th FIH Champions Trophy held in Melbourne, Australia in December 2012.
The nippy
striker was initially included in the national team for the subsequent 2012
Asian Champions Trophy tourney, but was dropped at the eleventh hour.
Yuvraj, who
turns out for Delhi Waveriders in the Hockey India League, recently joined
Indian Oil after deciding not to take up a job with Central Railway.
He recently
plied his trade in the German hockey league (Bundesliga) for TGF Frankenthal,
but a decent performance there failed to impress the national selectors and he
was again overlooked for the 9th Asia Cup – the senior men team’s
last international assignment.
Hockey
Passion wishes Yuvraj Walmiki a Very Happy Birthday and hopes the occasion
rings in more success and prosperity in his life.
India to play two warm-up games
The Manpreet
Singh-led Indian junior men’s hockey team will play two warm-up games to
fine-tune their preparations for the 10th Junior World Cup beginning
at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium from December 6.
The
Blueshirts will play their first practice game against England on December 30.
The hosts will play their second and final warm-up match against Belgium on
January 4.
India will
kickstart their 10th Junior World Cup campaign against formidable
Netherlands on December 6 in a Pool C game – the opening day of the big-ticket
event.
They play
their second match against Canada on December on 7 and their final league tie
against Korea on December 10.
It may be
worth recalling that India have won the Junior World Cup only once in the 2011
edition in Hobart, Australia, where they thumped Argentina 6-1 in the title
clash.
England first to arrive for Junior
World Cup
England
junior men’s hockey team became the first team to arrive in New Delhi for the
10th Junior World Cup hockey tournament beginning at the Major Dhyan
Chand National Stadium from December 6.
The English
team went through the paces at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium as part
of their preparations for the marquee event.
England are
placed in Pool D alongside South Africa, Malaysia and New Zealand.
England will
launch their campaign on the opening day of the event against South
Africa. They play New Zealand on
December 8 and will wrap up their league assignments against Malaysia on
December 9.
England have
never made a podium finish in the junior World Cup. Their best effort came in
the 1997 and 2011 editions in Milton Keynes (England) and Hobart (Australia),
where they bagged the fourth position respectively.
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