India march into Azlan final

India's charge in Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey continues as the team reached their first final in 13 years...

India’s charge in Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey continues as the team reached their first final in 13 years, and only their fourth ever, getting past hosts Malaysia 2-1 in their last league match today.

Early goals by Shivendra Singh (9th) and Sandeep Singh (10th) put India in control before Mohammad Amin Rahim got one back in the last minute.

With this, the team criticised as a “developmental side” have proved the critics wrong. Starting with two straight losses, the team have now won four in a row. “I am satisfied with my team,” coach AK Bansal said.

Story continues below this ad

“The result is very important, but for me, the performance of my boys matters more. Today, they were brilliant throughout,” he added.

The last time India reached the final of this tournament , in 1995, they beat Germany in the tie-breaker. Current manager Pargat Singh was leading the side then and AB Subbaiah was the man of the final. “From what I have seen of the team here so far, I am confident they will win tomorrow (against Argentina),” Subbaiah said. “There is discipline and a fighting spirit in this team that seemed missing for the past few months in the Indian squad,” he added.

The first time India won the tournament, in 1985, they had beaten Australia, who were led by current Indian technical consultant Ric Charlesworth. “I am sure Ric’s inputs have made a difference, just like they did at the women’s Olympic qualifiers recently,” said Subbaiah.

And Bansal, who was under the scanner at the high-profile tournament — apart from India and Malaysia, all other teams have qualified for the Beijing Olympics — can be proud of the fact that the very players slammed by former coach Joaquim Carvalho have led the charge. Irrespective of tomorrow’s result, this team has proved that the system may have let Indian hockey down but the talent remains untainted.