The best part of Sreejesh & Co's 2-1 win over Argentina yesterday was the team’s positive attitude despite a heart-breaking defeat to Olympic champions Germany 24 hours earlier, says Mervyn Fernandis
Members of the Indian hockey team acknowledge their fans after the 2-1 win over Argentina at the Olympic Hockey Centre in Rio yesterday
Both India and Argentina played a match on Monday, so it was always going to be a tough proposition when the two faced each other yesterday. Back-to-back matches can be physically very challenging across the speedy astroturf.
Members of the Indian hockey team acknowledge their fans after the 2-1 win over Argentina at the Olympic Hockey Centre in Rio yesterday
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The good thing about yesterday's 2-1 win over the Argentines was how quickly the Indians put behind the disappointment of conceding a last-gasp goal in their defeat to Germany the previous day.
The boys showed great character, worked well as a unit and perfectly executed the strategy of head coach Roelant Oltmans, who once again was spot-on with his rotational substitutions.
India dominated the initial proceedings and Chingelsina got the lead off a penalty corner which seemed more of an accident than a planned move. The second goal by Kothajit was due to some great opportunism shown in the rival circle. As I have said in my earlier columns, we must convert the half chances that come our way.
India forward Kothajit Khadangbam (left) is chased by a couple of Argentine defenders during their match in Rio yesterday. Pics/AFP
And forwards like Akashdeep Singh, Nikkin Thimmiah and Ramandeep Singh have the potential to do so. I expect them to get their names on the scoresheet soon.
Despte having played with 10 men for nearly 10 minutes — three green and one yellow card — across various stages of the match, India were lucky to have snatched full points. One's heart skipped a beat when the Argentines scored in the last quarter and applied some consistent pressure thereafter. They even came very close to equalising, and had it not been for India skipper and goalkeeper PR Sreejesh's fine reflexes, it could well have been a drawn affair.
Having drawn one, lost one and won a game in the compoetition so far, India will ride high on confidence when they take on the Netherlands on Thursday.
The writer was a member of India's 1980 Moscow Olympics gold medal-winning hockey team
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