Indian Hockey brigade to face the Germany test today
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Gyanendro Ningombam

Imphal, December 05 2014 : Asian Games gold medalist India, the host team in their quest at Hero Hockey Champion Trophy 2014 takes on mighty Olympic 2012 Champion at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneshwar in the Group B Campaign opener on Saturday at 19.30 hrs.

With all hopes for the medal where the nation pinned on hockey, the Indian team is looking forward to provide the country with another medal.

Eight times Olympic champion India would have, this time been a travesty of justice.

Having been practicing at home soil on a daily basis the team get accustomed to the pitch and weather condition.

The practice sessions are providing to be really beneficial as they get an opportunity to brush up their know how and game strategies.

However, for logistical reasons, it to discuss the present form of Indian team particular in this elite competition.

According to India's High Performance Director Roelant Oltmans who is in charge of the team after country's Chief Coach Terry Walsh's exit in his report to media before the start of the competition it is learnt that the hosts are determined to give a tough fight to their opponents and are geared up to overcome world 3 Germany in their opening match.

The boys, after achieving feats in Asiad and Australia tour one well motivated and team work work preparations are also in full swing he further added.

But will his verdict be able to provide the much valued medal to all the hungry Indians ? .

Understandably, there are euphoria all round at India team taking a win.

The team worked for it diligently under the direction of oltmans who has infested an element of verve into the Squad, hithereto unknown.

There was a fibre of freshmen in the work outs of the team.

No doubt, all fans agred that the quality offered by Indian Team at this juncture was superior on view indisputably.

The frontline Romandeep, Nikhin and Sunil with Young talent goal hunter Akash joining in now and then made a fine impression of a collective effort.

In the midfield, Sardar, the captain, Manjit, Dharambir, Gurbaz looked contributing their experience and expertise in the required measure.

Even defenders Raghunath, Rupindrapal, Kothajit and Bimol should palpable improvement from what we saw last.

Again it was in the area of goal keeping that India always suffered badly, but Shrejesh, being under the bar impeachment of the team brought to dogmatic, who played much beyond expectations.

On the point of team backup Team in charge oltmans exuded confidence on a report that the team perform with same enthusiasm which facilitates them every time to pull off a win against any the competitors.

Having played against Germany with a win in Delhi last year we are more confident to play all out for a win he further revealed.

Speaking on the prospect of team India in this elite tournament Thoiba Singh, (Olympian) one time countrie's reknown left winger, said beating Australia in a practice match by 2 � 0 boys have gained a lot of confidence and hope that India team end the tournament on a positive note.

But I'm afraid India's doings in this prestigious event have been shockingly dismal.

In the 35 editions held thus far India fail to qualify in 24 and 2 did not participated in two times on their own reasons.

In the remaining 11 chapters, India has won bronze once in 1982 has been placed 4th on four occasions, 5th on two occasions and 6th on four.

Then what can we expect from this team ? But the present team is looked very very composite.

The team have been practically gaining a lot of confidence and hope that India end the tournament on a winning spree.

But Boys need to focuse to dishout to meterialise all the scoring opportunities in their favour he further added.

To my mind, win means to make number of goals.

So, by now India should plan to go into the match with more defenders to check the scoring potentials of Germany's nippy forwards from all conceivable angles.

And if defence is tightened it should apply counter attack through action packed encounter.

Don't forget to play more attacking game too.

But while in the course of attack all should avoid miss passes thereby putting opponent team in a position to launch counter attacks that many make goal.

The frontliners should always play consistently inside the shooting circle.

It needs to learn that the situation of every move in a match is always different.

So it is very very important to make any design or move to convert into goal.

It is the time the coach work on this important drawbacks if team India is to remain an entity in this competition.

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