Misc. news about Indian hockey

[arjun2761]

ACL injuries are very common in US professional sport. It generally takes the top professionals well over a year to get back into top form even if they can start training earlier. Given that Birendra Lakra had his injury in February this year, it will be huge mistake to expect that he will be effective in Rio, especially if we have younger fitter players that are playing well.

[PKBasu]

This is a nice article on Birendra Lakra's recovery from injury -

CRICKET’S RIO MOMENT

It looks we are playing a six nations tournament later this month where Lakra will be picked.

Oltmans will next check on Lakra's match-fitness at the Six Nations tournament in Valencia, kicking off on June 27.

I hope we try out few more players in that competition to come up with best combination for Rio.

I'm glad the Karnataka State Cricket Association was able to help Birendra Lakra. The journalist seems to have been unaware that the KSCA COO, MP Ganesh, was captain of the Indian hockey team at the 1973 World Cup, the last time we lost a world hockey title in a penalty shoot-out in the final.

[sameerph]

ACL injuries are very common in US professional sport. It generally takes the top professionals well over a year to get back into top form even if they can start training earlier. Given that Birendra Lakra had his injury in February this year, it will be huge mistake to expect that he will be effective in Rio, especially if we have younger fitter players that are playing well.

I agree in that case. Defense was one of our stronger areas in champions trophy. Usually, there are 5 defenders the full squad of 18.

Harmanpreet with his performance here has mostly sealed his place for Rio. Raghunath and Kothajit are certainities and Rupinder Pal should be back too. That leaves only 1 spot between Surender Kumar, Birendra and perhaps Jasjit. I think younger Surender Kumar will be a better bet in that case.

[sameerph]

As per this news report, India will jump to 5th place in the latest FIH world rankings. This is great as the last time we were in top 5 was way back in 2004.

India leaps to fifth spot in rankings

[jaydeep]

Infographics.

[ssp]

Batra going for FIH president's job:

http://www.stick2hockey.com/ViewArticle ... eOID=13326

We need to take control of world hockey and 'bend' the rules in our favour after so many decades of being on the wrong end! If Batra gets the job, he should sort out the umpiring for starters and then pump lots more money into Asian hockey and then set about reducing the over reliance on power/strength in men's hockey- don't know exactly how, but reducing the effect of PCs would be a start. How many times have we seen our guys give away silly PCs when our goal is under no real threat and we end up conceding a goal, whilst at the other end, the idiot umpire misses obvious fouls or denies us PCs.

[prasen9]

Re-introduce grass hockey as a separate but co-equal discipline just like clay court, grass court, etc. in tennis.

[sameerph]

And in the latest FIH ranking, we slip to 6th position among men. Argentina jumps to 2nd position behind Australia. These are followed by Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. England, New Zeland and Spain are below us.

I think it is a fair ranking for us based on our current level of play. Good thing I think we are not that far behind top 5 and generally do not get outplayed in the matches against them as we used to be earlier. So, good team selection and retention of Oltmans at the least can help us take a bit ahead.

Our women are 12th position, 4th in Asia behind China, Korea and Japan who are 8th, 9th and 10th respectively.

[jaydeep]

Again decision will be made on suggestion by ex-Olympians ... Don't need to tell that after retirement they did nothing except politics to bring Indian hockey down.

Roelant Oltmans on his way out?

"I got reports from 20 Olympians, pinpointing the shortcomings of the Indian team. Their reports will definitely help us take corrective measures," he said. The HI president said the Oltmans issue will be discussed at a meeting, indicating that the Dutchman had earlier agreed to stay till Rio Olympics.

"We will call some former players and take their suggestions before taking any step." Batra also had high hopes on India as he explained "another Olympics came to a disappointing end for India hockey fans."

[jayakris]

Argh. "Olympian hockey players". A species better only to "the worm" who uses them.
Nothing good is going to happen. Argh, argh.

[ssp]

Post by jayakris » Sun Sep 25, 2016 11:32 pm

Argh. "Olympian hockey players". A species better only to "the worm" who uses them.
Nothing good is going to happen. Argh, argh.

Yes, there will a stupid decision regarding Oltmans. The women's coach stays on despite being really poor for years.
Meanwhile the stupidity on selections continues as Gurbaj is still being ignored and the non-performing dross of the last 4+ years keep getting more chances to mess up in every match.

[sameerph]

It seems like better sense is prevailing -

Hockey India wants Oltmans as coach till Tokyo Olympics: Batra

[ssp]

Here's the squad for the Australia tour:

GOALKEEPERS: Abhinav Kumar Pandey,Akash Chikte
DEFENDERS: Rupinder Pal Singh (Vice Captain), Pardeep Mor, VR Raghunath (Captain), Birendra Lakra, Kothajit Singh, Surender Kumar
MIDFIELDERS: Chinglensana Singh Kangujam, Manpreet Singh, Sardar Singh, S.K Uthappa
FORWARDS: Talwinder Singh, Nikkin Thimmaiah, Affan Yousuf, Mohammad Amir Khan, Satbir Singh, Akashdeep Singh

As usual 4/5 players that are holding us back are STILL in. Totally fed up with seeing Akashdeep & Uthappa in the squad despite being woeful for several years!! Satbir makes a return. His last outing (NZ tour) was pathetic and we have both of the sloths and with Birendra's lack of pace, we are going be vulnerable in defence.

Lalit and Devendar Walmiki aredropped, but Talwinder stays!No logic in this. I would have dropped Surender for his stupid play against Malaysia in the ACT. Good to see Manpreet and Mohammed Amir Khan return and Affan Yousseff keeping his place.

I don't think the selectors will ever drop my 2 'favourites'.

[arjun2761]

Are the selectors truly this stupid, or are other factors in play. Perhaps, some pressure from regional federations or perhaps the 2 sloths and Birendra Lakra may be considered "glue" guys that keep the team together or give them some fire and physical toughness which the coaches may desire.

[ssp]

Arjun, the selectors are stupid.

In the recent ACT, I almost cheered when Uthappa had to go off with an injury, but alas, it wasn't too serious and he was back on the pitch too soon! Akashdeep doesn't exert himself too much and so never gets injured.

What is the purpose of this tour? Experimenting with a view to the 2018 WC or even 2020 Olympics? In which case, why are we playing Birendra when he isn't fully fit? We know he is a good player and should be in the team when he has recovered his speed. Why are we playing both sloths?

I understand that our best talent is now in the U21s, who are fully focused on the JWC, but there are a few players on the fringes, who could be tried out. Gurjinder? Amit Rohidas (I criticised him about 2 yrs ago but he has done pretty well in the domestic tournaments)? Jarmanpreet?

We need some creativity in the final third of the pitch. Dharamvir was reasonably good in this department before he got injured (although he was almost as frustrating as Akashdeep for a 2-3 years). Gurbaj was often our most creative force, but looks like he is never returning. Instead we get Satbir, who has that typical Indian trait of mis trapping, giving away fouls and generally creating nothing.

Still no Jasjit or Danish. Have to be thankful for that at least.