Hockey World Cup 2023: India paid the price of Chief Coach Reid’s experiments and stubbornness, lack of strategy seen in the crossover
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FIH Hockey World Cup 2023: 1975 champion of India hockey world cup After 48 years, questions are being raised on the strategy of Chief Coach Graham Reid after the dream of winning a medal again. India paid the price for Reid’s inexplicable experiments and stubbornness with a sudden death defeat against New Zealand after knocking at the door of victory by taking a 3-1 lead in Sunday’s crossover. Reid’s neglect of experienced strikers like Simranjit Singh (3), Gurjant Singh (3) and Dilpreet Singh (2), who played a role in India’s bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, proved costly.
Raj Kumar Pal should have been given a chance earlier also
Raj Kumar Pal, along with drag-flicker Jugraj Singh, was not selected in India’s initial 18-player squad for the World Cup and was kept as two substitutes. Raj Kumar returned to the team after Hardik’s injury. With one goal each in the shootout and sudden death in the crossover against New Zealand, he proved that he deserved a place in India’s 18 players right from the start. Lalit Upadhyay, Gurjant Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Neelkant Sharma, Vivek Sagar Prasad were seen struggling in the World Cup. India scored nine goals and conceded five goals in four matches including three pool matches and one crossover. Out of 26 penalty corners, only five were converted. Drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh, the captain who scored the most goals in the Pro-League, was changed by drag-flick coach Brem Lomans of the Netherlands, which did not work. The ploy to score from a high flick backfired.
India missed many opportunities
Competitions like cross over often get drawn into shootouts. India lacked a clear strategy regarding this. There was a lack of planning as to who would score from 23 meters within eight seconds. India had experienced Akashdeep, Lalit, Mandeep Singh, Manpreet were the best options in the shootout against New Zealand, ignoring these three and choosing Shamsher, Abhishek, Sukhjeet, Harmanpreet, Raj Kumar was a big mistake.
The author is a senior sports journalist.
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