Marijne’s India have task cut out

TOUGH India men’s team will face their biggest challenge from Australia who have won all men’s hockey titles at CWG

MUMBAI: Having won the men’s hockey title five out of five times in Commonwealth Games, it would be an understatement to say that Australia have dominated the sport. And, given their form, it is unlikely any team will be able to challenge them for a sixth title.

Sjoerd Marijne-coached India are the second-highest ranked team in the event but upstaging the Kookaburras will be easier said than done. To add to India’s woes, they are in a tough group with the likes of England, Pakistan and Malaysia.

TRICKY CUSTOMERS

Both England and Pakistan are tricky customers and can cause an upset. With only the top two teams from each pool qualifying for the last-four stage, one bad match can hinder a team’s chances of progressing to the knockout stage.

Thus India, a mixture of experience and youth, will have to be at their best to add gold to the two silver won in 2010 and 2014. Hockey made its Commonwealth Games debut at Kuala Lumpur in 1998.

For India, Gold Coast will be the testing ground for tougher challenges ahead, such as the Asian Games in Indonesia — the qualifying event for the 2020 Olympic Games, the Champions Trophy at Breda, Netherlands in June and the World Cup in Bhubaneswar in November-december.

CURRENT FORM

Hockey India has gone by current form and not given precedence to sentiments, as evident in the axing of Sardar Singh.

The team management has tested a few youngsters on the New Zealand tour and Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia and picked a side they think can do the job in Gold Coast.

“Commonwealth Games may not be our priority but the Indian team always plays to win and this time too it will not be different,” said Marijne.

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