Asia Cup: Injury-hit India lock horns with Oman in opener
Sardar Singh of India. (Getty images)
Given the spate of injures, preparation for the 9th Asia Cup has been anything but ideal, especially with a 2014 World Cup berth is at stake. This has prompted the inclusion of a relatively young, inexperienced side.
The national team showed decent form and put their finishing touches to their preparations by playing a 1-1 draw with Malaysia and then sailing past Japan 4-0 in their two warm-up games in the run-up to the high-profile continental event.
India will very much fancy their chances of pulling off a facile win over tournament debutants Oman in their opening game on Saturday.
The Blueshirts are missing a slew of experienced names, especially in up front.
Nippy striker SV Sunil, who featured in the 2007 and 2009 Asia Cups, injured his elbow during the preparatory camp in Bengaluru, while crafty Gurwinder Singh Chandi has been rendered horse de combat for six months now owing to an ankle ligament injury.
Danish Mujtaba is also forced to give the 9th Asia Cup a miss after he underwent a knee surgery and is, in fact, out of action for the remainder of 2013.
Talented youngster Akashdeep Singh is also not part of the Asia Cup – the striker who is rated highly by coach Roelant Oltmans – is being treated for a shin injury, which has been troubling him for a long time.
The Sardar Singh-led side will have their work cut out with the ‘experience quotient’ missing. India will look to the likes of Dharamvir Singh, Mandeep Singh and Chinglensana Singh to spearhead the attack.
Mandeep Singh has been a bit of lucky mascot for the side and kept finding his goal-scoring stick when he was brought on the pitch in small spells by former coach Michael Nobbs during the Hockey World League Round 3 event in Rotterdam. One hopes that Roelant Oltmans uses him elaborately and gets the best out of him.
Mandeep has this knack of being a tormentor for the opposition with his pacy runs and clinical finishing. Lanky Nitin Thimmaiah is another upcoming youngster, who would be expected to pull his weight.
Rookies Nikin Thimmaiah and Ramandeep Singh (who scored against Japan) will seek to make a big impression on their international debut tournament.
Captain Sardar Singh, who is recovering from a throat infection and fever after being hospitalised on Monday, may skip the Saturday’s game considering the fact that it is against an unfancied side like Oman.
The likes of Manpreet Singh, Birendra Lakra, Gurmail Singh and Kothajit Singh can make up for his absence in the opening game, although India would like to have Sardar back in the fold for the crunch league tie against Korea on August 26.
Sources close to the team say Sardar is back in the team hotel after undergoing medication for his illness, although he was not given a look-in in the two practice games. The team management is expected to take a call on Sardar on the day of the match.
Recalled striker SK Uthappa, who scored in both the warm-up games, is likely to be fielded in midfield, which will be a new challenge for him.
Newly-appointed vice captain and goalkeeper PR Sreejesh may have to wear the captain’s armband in case Sardar misses the first game.
The likes of former vice captain Vokkaliga Raghunath, Rupinder Pal Singh and Amit Rohidas will look to work closely with Sreejesh in defence and offer a strong resistance from opposition raids.
Oman – who are coached by former German star Oliver Kruize (a member of Germany’s 1992 Olympic gold-winning team) – will be determined to make a good impression in their Asia Cup debut.
The Oman side are coming off a strenuous five-week exposure tour of Europe (Germany and Holland) and will be keen to put that in practice against India.
Oman are without a full-time coach since December 2011 when their Indian coach KK Ponnacha stepped down.
India last played Oman during the 2013 Hockey World League Round 2 event in New Delhi and hammered them 9-1. The Blueskirts also routed them 11-0 at the 2012 Asian Champions Trophy in Doha.
A win over Oman should be like a stroll in the park, but India would do well not to press the complacency button and treat it as any other game.