INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Thats the main theme of the 2023 Mens Hockey World Cup
Theres little else than hope that a 48-year wait involves
The story is the very same
The expectations are comparable
The times, though, are a lot different
In 1975, when India won its only World Cup, the group was world-beater
In 2023, after barren World Cup looks spread throughout nearly five decades, hope is the only familiar aspect.On paper, however, there is a
welcome significant difference from any World Cup India played since 1982 in Bombay
As the bronze medalist from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, this World Cup will be the first time that an Indian team will play as a medallist
from the last Olympics.Just 526 days after winning bronze at the Tokyo Games, India will take on Spain to open their World Cup project on
Friday at the multi-million Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium (BMHS) in Rourkela-- a jaw-dropping phenomenon worth more than Rs 250 crores.The BMHS
has been the centre of tourist attraction in the accumulation to the World Cup-- for its splendor in addition to the ongoing building
activity even on the day before the competition begins
However things that matter one of the most remain in preparedness to raise the curtain over the tournament.The 15th edition of the guyss
World Cup opened with a starry event on January 12, but for some reason not at the two World Cup places
It was held in Cuttack, which surprised many.The competition will open initially at Bhubaneswars Kalinga Stadium, the co-host for the first
ever twin-city maless World Cup, with two afternoon video games on Friday
Rourkela will host the two evening fixtures of the opening day, including Indias first swimming pool match against Spain, which begins at
6 Indian group, put in Pool D together with England, Spain and debutants Wales, gave final touches to its preparations on Thursday-- as
coach Graham Reid ran last-minute checks focused mostly on the protectors positions inside the circle and the penalty-corner routines.The
penalty corners is an area of India captain and ace drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh, who replaced Manpreet Singh as skipper in the later half
The analyses of Indias team have actually revolved around the thin back-up for Harmanpreet in the drag-flick department, as the other
professional Jugraj Singh has actually been put amongst the two reserves.But Harmanpreet varies, putting his weight behind vice-captain Amit
Rohidas, Varun Kumar and local kid Nilam Sanjeep Xess as capable options to convert charge corners
I would state we have good drag-flickers
We have four in the group
We have variations and need to use those well, stated the Indian skipper
On paper Indias toughest pool game seems to be versus England on Jan 15, prior to they conclude their pool engagements on Jan 19 versus
Spains perseverance can never be ignored, specifically after they roped in the clever Max Caldas as coach last year.The Spaniards,
nevertheless, are banking on youth, which is in stark contrast to India who have players like PR Sreejesh playing in his fourth World Cup
The Spanish group does have gamers like Joaquin Menini, the Argentine who won the 2016 Rio Olympics gold but changed to Spain after a
fallout with the Argentina federation
Beware of youth; they have the ability to perform much higher than what perhaps they think they can, and there is no fear
They have absolutely nothing to lose
You much better watch out for those sorts of teams
Thats the reality, stated India coach Reid on Spains young squad
I think experience is a bit overrated often, particularly in a big competition like this
We just need to play our best
Thats the crucial to this tournament for us, about carrying out where we can and being able to accomplish that, Reid, who signed up with
the Indian team as coach after the last World Cup, added.It will be also fascinating to see how the Spanish team, which has begun making its
presence felt once again in world hockey, manages the pressure of playing in a stadium packed with fans screaming for India.Reid stated
while crowd assistance does motivate the players, it can also end up being a double-edged sword if not soaked in
It has to do with staying in the minute
Thats what we talk a lot about, remaining focused
If pressure is getting to you, if you have nerves, it means that you are off-task
It indicates you are either thinking about something that is going to take place in the future or something that has happened in the past,
So its a matter of understanding and getting to that point where you can let it inspire you, as you state, but you dont review the top
Its easier said than done, when you understand you have to finish on the top to prevent the pressure of that additional match in the
crossovers.The top group from each of the four pools gets a direct entry into the quarterfinals, while the groups ending up second and third
play the crossover matches.Indias swimming pool is without a doubt the most difficult of the 4, with Australia anticipated to top Pool A
There could be a tussle between protecting champions Belgium and Germany for the leading area in Pool B, and the Netherlands would expensive
their opportunities of a direct entry into the quarters from Pool C.That leaves Pool D the most open, and possibly the swimming pool of
death, with England, India and Spain all in a race that may end in a photo-finish for the top spot.Friday is a wedding day and the steel
city of Rourkela, which has been decked up for the World Cup, is anticipated to be buzzing in and around the enormous bowl of the Birsa
And If India have actually learnt their lessons well and can recreate Tokyo in Odisha, a longstanding hope will get fulfilled and an
unpleasant wait will end on January 29.
