The purpose of reference is clear for these having their eyes on Paris. India are taking part in Germany within the semifinal of the Summer time Olympics.
A spot within the ultimate, affirmation of a medal — the stakes are fairly excessive, even increased for India, who have not performed an Olympic hockey ultimate for 44 years and haven’t received successive hockey medals on the Video games for 52 years. And PR Sreejesh will hope that he finishes his profession with a medal within the largest recreation of his iconic profession, an Olympic ultimate.
For every of the above to occur, India should beat Germany.
A bit of a part of the narrative for the Germans can be revenge. The injuries of that epic bronze-medal match on the Tokyo Olympics are recent at three years previous. The Germans sank into the turf after ending on the incorrect aspect of 5-Four ultimate rating, whereas the Indians celebrated a long-awaited return to the Video games’ podium after 41 years.
(PTI Photograph)
The storyline of Tuesday’s semifinal has sufficient sub-plots to make any participant nervous. However this Indian group has performed like one that does not carry butterflies requiring Dr. Rajendra Kalra’s psychological methods to settle.
Forty-nine years in the past, Dr Kalra, a doctor settled in Chandigarh, was named because the official physician of the Indian group travelling to Kuala Lumpur for the 1975 World Cup.
Earlier than the ultimate towards Pakistan, a few gamers complained to him a couple of abdomen ailment. Studying the gamers’ minds and it coinciding with the enormity of the event, Dr Kalra performed a psychologist as a substitute of a doctor.
He requested the organisers for some jaggery and black sesame seeds. As soon as it was delivered to him, he melted the jaggery, added the sesame seeds to it and rolled the combination into tiny balls resembling drugs capsules.
Dr Kalra requested the jittery gamers to take that earlier than stepping onto the sector.
It labored. India received the World Cup. However not due to Dr Kalra’s pseudo capsules, however due to 11 assured gamers on the sector.
Again to Paris, this Indian group has come of age.
(PTI Photograph)
If the win over Australia within the Olympics after 52 years was like claiming misplaced territory, coach Craig Fulton’s males turned its defence into fortresss within the quarterfinal. Taking part in with 10 males for over 40 minutes after Amit Rohidas was proven the crimson card, India put adversity to disgrace by not simply holding Nice Britain to 1-1 in 60 minutes, but additionally by stamping its authority within the shootout. India scored all 4, Sreejesh saved two. A 4-2 (1-1) win took India to a second consecutive Olympic semifinal.
However that Rohidas crimson card, for flaying his stick in anger throughout the face of England striker Will Calnan, got here again to hang-out the Tokyo bronze medallists.
The defender, most significantly India’s first rusher on penalty-corner defence, was handed a one-match suspension and can sit out of the semifinal on Tuesday.
If there’s one factor that may make India nervous earlier than operating into the Germans, it is Rohidas’s unavailability, which hampers rolling substitutions, short-corner defence and a diminished drag-flick backup for skipper Harmanpreet Singh.
(Amit Rohidas being proven the crimson card within the quarterfinal towards Nice Britain – ANI Photograph)
The place it could additionally damage India is in manufacturing counter-attacks after a profitable defence of a penalty nook, as a result of one of many midfielders might need to be pulled again to finish the set of 5 in India’s publish with Rohidas out on the suspension chair.
Maybe one approach to look past that drawback is that it stays 11 vs 11 on the battlefield. The dugout can deal with the 15 vs 16.
The huge event reminds of the remark as soon as made by former India coach Michael Nobbs.
“You’ll want to put coffins on the sidelines and provides it your all when taking part in on your nation,” the Australian as soon as stated.
(PR Sreejesh, left, with captain Harmanpreet Singh – Photograph Supply: X)
You may’t doubt this Indian group about giving it their all. If they’ll do it for 120 extra minutes throughout two days within the French capital, the ‘Holy Grail’ can be again to the place it belonged for eight Olympics in a row.
All roads for the Indians on Tuesday in Paris will result in the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium, whereas thousands and thousands again house cross their fingers.
