December 28 : On-field achievements often jostled for space with off-field drama as Indian hockey endured a rollercoaster year during which the players scripted historical feats but coach Paul van Ass’ acrimonious ouster and Gurbaj Singh’s suspension created its share of storm.While the women team’s return to Olympics after a hiatus of 36 years and men team’s ending a 33-year-old medal jinx in a major international tournament – Hockey World League (HWL) Final to be precise – were the high points, Van Ass’ bitter sacking and experienced midfielder Gurbaj’s nine-month suspension summed up a mixed year gone by for Indian hockey.
Just like the past two years, 2015 started with the high-profile six-team franchise-based Hockey India League which witnessed a new champion in debutants Ranchi Rays.
Soon after India travelled to Ipoh, Malaysia for the six-nation Azlan Shah Cup, where they finished third.
But a major controversy broke out after India returned from Antwerp leg of the HWL as Van Ass was sacked unceremoniously just six months into his job following a bitter public spat with Hockey India president Narinder Batra.
After attack, counter-attacks from both sides, High Performance Director Roelant Oltmans was handed over the full charge of the men’s team till 2016 Rio Olympics.
By then, seasoned midfielder Gurbaj was already sidelined for his unruly behaviour and was handed a nine-month suspension by HI for creating disharmony and rifts in the team.
But within months the national hockey body was forced to lift the ban after Gurbaj went to the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
On the upside, another hockey dream bloomed, when Indian women’s hockey team qualified for Olympics after a long gap of 36 years.
India took the quota place on the basis of their fifth-place finish in the women’s Hockey World League Semifinals in Antwerp, Belgium.
But there was more glory in store for the Sardar Singh led men’s side. In the final assignment of the year, a spirited India broke their 33-year-old medal jinx in a major international tournament to clinch the bronze in HWL Final in Raipur earlier this year.
After some inconsistent show in the pool stages, the Indians came back from two goals down to stun defending champions Netherlands in the shootout in a thrilling bronze medal play-off match.
India last won a medal in an international tournament way back in 1982 when they beat Pakistan 5-4 in the Champions Trophy in Amsterdam.
The bronze in the HWL Final notwithstanding, India’s joy of rising to the sixth position in world rankings was short-lived as they dropped a place to seventh in the recent chart, courtesy Belgium’s runners-up finish.
The recent success against top teams like Australia, Netherlands and Germany have proved that India can return to the big league of world hockey provided they maintain consistency in the Olympic year.
Courtesy : PTI
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