An hour after the live telecast of the India - Pakistan hockey match, the morning papers in India carried the news report that Dhanraj Pillai and Mukesh Kumar have been awarded the Arjuna Puraskar in hockey for 1995. The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 50,000, along with a bronze statue of the epic hero Arjuna, and represents the gratitude of the nation for their winning laurels for the country. The pony-tailed Dhanraj and the bald Mukesh are the best advertisements to Indian hockey worldwide. Congratulations Dhanraj and Mukesh.
Only divine intervention would have got India a berth in the semi-finals. In the event, God did not oblige, as Germany beat USA 3-0 to gain the semi- final spot. Four teams from Asia and four teams from Europe had qualified for the Olympics. All four Asian teams - India, Pakistan, South Korea and Malaysia have made an unceremonious exit from the Olympics. 3 of the 4 European teams have stormed into the semi-finals - Spain, Germany and Holland, with Britain still in the running. This balance of power lies with Europe in world hockey today.
The match started on a pleasant note with both India and Spain walking into the field together, shaking hands, and exchanging souvenirs. This was the only match that India played where neither team got any card for rough play.
A defensive lapse in the 21st minute by a Spanish defender saw an unmarked Gavin Ferreira pounce on the loose ball. He stepped into the D and took a first time shot to the right corner of the goal. India was a goal up and the large crowd came to life.
A minute before half-time, Spain fought back and earned a penalty corner. Up stepped Xavier Escude to take the shot. The ball was pushed. The hitter faked thus side stepping the onrushing Dhanraj. Goal keeper Subbiah was already sprawled on the ground. Xavier Escude hit a chipped shot over the goal keeper to score the equaliser. His job done, Escude went back to the bench. India and Spain thus crossed over equal at 1 goal apiece, though India had 6 shots at goal to Spain's 2.
India finally found success with their penalty corner drill with the corner awarded to them in the 41st minute. The hit was stopped by the goal keeper. The pusher, Gavin Ferreira, spotted the rebound going his way. He leaped to the ground and in one fluid motion, swatted the ball in even as he was falling down. The electronic scoreboard on the field was saying "Did you see that. Wow!". It was vintage hockey, and India were one up.
Substitute Sabu Varkey completed the tally in the 59th minute off a cross from the left wing. He got the ball on the run and without even looking at the goal slammed the ball into the right corner of the net. The half stretched goal keeper could only watch helplessly as the ball went to his extreme right and into the goal.
India's strategy was to gain at least a draw against super powers Germany and Pakistan, and go all out for a victory against USA, Spain and Argentina. That would have given India 8 points and a berth in the semi- finals. Everything went according to plan, except for an upset loss to Argentina. In retrospect, that one loss to the South American champions sent India crashing out of the tournament.
India's target now is to reach the fifth position. In the previous World Cup at Sydney in 1994, India had achieved the 5th position. Thus India would at least not have declined in world rankings. In addition, this will qualify India for the 1997 Champions Trophy, the exclusive tournament for the top six teams in the world.
At the end of all the matches in Pool A, the Indian defence has stood out, conceding the least number of goals (3). However, barring USA, India has also scored the least number of goals (8) - half of them against the minnows USA. This is a glaring chink in India's arsenal - our inability to notch up huge scores. Either we should have an opportunistic forward line who can convert India's dominance into goals, or we should have penalty corner experts who can deliver at least a 25% conversion percentage. India has failed dismally on both the counts.
In the last 24 years, India has reached the Olympic hockey semi-finals only once. In their hockey histories, this is only the second time that both India and Pakistan have failed to reach the semi-finals of Olympic hockey. Also, in this Olympics, not a single Indian or Pakistani umpire was found world class enough to officiate in the tournament. Both India and Pakistan have a lot of soul searching to do.
In modern hockey, grace does not count. Artistry does not win anymore. Individual brilliance is no longer effective, for a passed ball is faster than a dribble. One has to play as a team, play to a game plan, and play to win. Indians are extremely talented and skilled ball players, but not world class. The title of the Olympic Champions is reserved for the latter.