Tokyo Olympic 2020 - Hockey

A forum to discuss Indian hockey and the disarray it is in despite the promising new professional PHL series.

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Tokyo Olympic 2020 - Hockey

Post by jaydeep »

The Indian team for the FIH Hockey Series Final is announced ... This is the first step in the Tokyo Olympic qualification process ... The top 2 teams from this Bhubaneswar tournament will progress to the Olympic qualifiers, which is scheduled for later this year.

India is in the Pool A with Russia, Poland and Uzbekistan and Japan, Mexico, US and South Africa r in the Pool B ... India will play their first match against Russia on the 6th of June.
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Re: Tokyo Olympic 2020 qualification

Post by jaydeep »

Again usual deadwood r in the team; likes of Amit Rohidas, Mandeep and Akashdeep ... A surprising inclusion of Ramandeep but we will be missing youngsters like Dipsan Tirkey, Sumit Kumar and Shilanand Lakra.

Indian Team:
Goalkeepers: PR Sreejesh, Krishan B Pathak
Defenders: Harmanpreet Singh, Birendra Lakra (Vice Captain), Surender Kumar, Varun Kumar, Amit Rohidas, Gurinder Singh
Midfielders: Manpreet Singh(Captain), Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Sumit, Nilakanta Sharma
Forwards: Mandeep Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Gursahibjit Singh, Simranjit Singh
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Re: Tokyo Olympic 2020 qualification

Post by ssp »

Jaydeep, my thoughts exactly regarding omissions of the promising players and inclusion of the dross. Really frustrating to see the stupidity of the selections. Most international (maybe even club!) teams would have dropped Mandeep, Akashdeep and Amit Rohidas after 10-20 games!

Mandeep just runs around aimlessly, hardly creating any meaningful press on the opposition and is utterly useless in possession. Can't be trusted to trap or pass cleanly over 10m. Akashdeepis is similar and Amit Rohidas cost us dearly in the WC and Azlan Shah Cup with his indiscipline and incompetence. None of these 3 have shown enough improvement to be considered international level players, despite being given 5+ years.

Other players with much more quality are dropped without a second thought. :damn: :damn:
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Re: Tokyo Olympic 2020 qualification

Post by prasen9 »

Even if the selectors are idiots, why do the coaches play them then?
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Re: Tokyo Olympic 2020 qualification

Post by ssp »

We have started with a 10-0 win over Russia and today beat Poland 3-1. To put this result in to context, we beat them 10-0 in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. We had no coach then! That's the kind of 'progress' we are famous for!
Totally expected given the forwards selected. Also gifted a goal...also totally normal for us. Even with 100-200 caps, our players are erratic, error prone and lack basic trapping, passing skills. Yet, our idiotic system keeps selecting sub-standard players and discard promising talent. :-(
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Re: Tokyo Olympic 2020 qualification

Post by ssp »

We play Japan in the semi final, while USA and RSA meet in the other semi.
Given the erratic form from our team, we are capable of messing up against Japan.

On a separate note, I watched Belgium thrash Germany 8-0 in a Pro League match today. The standard of play from the Belgians was incredible. Their stick skills, decision making, tackling, defensive play, passing and speed was fantastic. Something we can not hope to match. So many of our players are way below this standard.

Our 5th WR is not really accurate, because I think we would lose most matches to Germany, GB and possibly NZL and Spain too. The frequent sacking of coaches means we have regressed from about Terry Walsh's team of 2014. :-(
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Re: Tokyo Olympic 2020 qualification

Post by ssp »

We put in 2 good performances in the semi and final to win the tournament. Couldn't see any of the matches. Slightly underwhelming group games, especially the Poland one. Highlights and commentary seem to suggest lots of chances missed and PC striking was poor.
Stick2hockey's commentary had the usual stuff about Mandeep and Akashdeep messing up chances.
Why the hell aren't we dropping the weakest players? Just maddening garbage. Even against such weak opposition, Mandeep can't score many goals.
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Re: Tokyo Olympic 2020 qualification

Post by ssp »

Our ladies have won their FIH series final in Japan. They beat the hosts 3-1 in the final. Opposition wasn't the toughest, but pleasing to see a win in a final ;)

I think Japan may have fielded an extra experimental team.

Matches are on www.fih.live
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Re: Tokyo Olympic 2020 qualification

Post by jaydeep »

Yes, but a still overall good performance by our ladies ... In their last 2 matches, they got stretch by their opponents; Chile and Japan.
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Re: Tokyo Olympic 2020 qualification

Post by ssp »

Agree with Jaydeep. Performances were good in last 2 matches. A huge improvement over Hawgood's teams of a couple of years ago. It was obvious that Hawgood was pathetic, yet HI kept him for years and even reappointed him after he'd left. Usual nonsensical decision making by HI.

It's also very obvious that continuity with coaches is a sensible policy, but I expect Graham Reid will go after the next poor showing (which is likely when we select the usual sub standard players)
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Re: Misc. news about Indian hockey

Post by srini »

Can anyone tell if we just need to win that ONE game with Pak or those other below par hockey nations to directly qualify for Olympics or is that match one of the other matches to follow for qualification?
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Re: Misc. news about Indian hockey

Post by ssp »

It will be 2 matches with the aggregate score deciding the qualifier. The higher ranked team will have home advantage for both matches.
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Re: Misc. news about Indian hockey

Post by Sin Hombre »

Draw is later today.

Egypt is no longer there (not sure why) so the men will play one of Pakis, Austria or Russia.

The women are in pot 2, and will play at home against one of Korea, Belgium, USA or Canada. Belgium and Korea will both be tough opposition for us.
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Re: Misc. news about Indian hockey

Post by Atithee »

USA women team is pretty formidable opposition too.
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Re: Misc. news about Indian hockey

Post by sameerph »

It is India vs. Russia for men and India vs. USA for women, both the 2-match series will be Bhubaneshwar. Looks pretty straightforward for men but tricky one for women.
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