It was early into the second quarter of the Asian Champions Trophy final against Malaysia, and the pressure on the Indian defence was relentless. And soon enough, the Malaysians had taken the lead scoring their second goal of the match. Even before the bench had stopped celebrating the second strike, they scored a third. India were 1-3 down and the match was fast slipping away from them. Yet again, the spectre of underachievement was starting to loom large. The dream was turning sour and the agonising memory of a poor World Cup raised its head again. The Indian supporters were all in disbelief.
That’s when it happened. Five minutes left for the third quarter to end. Clearly, something had changed. India were no longer the team defending. Something had happened and what we saw unfold was the most dramatic five minutes of hockey. In five minutes, India scored two goals and almost had another. Against a spirited Malaysian team and from a 1-3 deficit, the Indians ended the third quarter 3-3.
India were dominant in the four quarter but the decisive goal eluded them. Two penalty corners in two minutes, and Harmanpreet Singh put both wide. The variation in the second one had set it up but the skipper failed to keep it on target. As the pressure mounted, the moment of magic arrived. Almost all match, he wasn’t at his best. Missed many a chance and failed to do justice to his reputation inside the box. But then he stood up when it mattered the most. Akashdeep Singh, with a moment of brilliance, made it 4-3 and you could see the Malaysians deflated.
It was fitting that Akashdeep made it 4-3. India will need him in the Asian Games and this goal will give him a lot of confidence. Indian supporters had found their voice and the Malaysians were in shock at what had happened. The 3-1 lead had been squandered and with five minutes left, they were a goal down.
For the first few seconds after the final hooter, most players hunched down in exhaustion. Only the men from the bench had rushed out into the middle in celebration. Craig Fulton, the India coach, was seen giving high fives and hugs, and for some fans, it took a few extra seconds to sink in. The win had partly made up for all the World Cup disappointment. Sreejesh, with 301 caps now, and Harmanpreet, standing tall as skipper, had managed to give Indian hockey a new lifeline and set things up for the Asian Games.
The players had fulfilled their mission of winning on home soil. But then, this is the rehearsal. However much you win at home, the Asian Games gold, which will complete Paris qualification, is what really matters.
The one thing that stood out from the Indian performance was the improved physicality of the team. The fitness and stamina of the players are of the highest standard and unlike in the past, the Indians don’t cede ground to any team in matters of fitness. Down 1-3, the pace at which India played was stellar.
At 1-3, it was never just about individual brilliance. It was about doing it as a team and making a comeback against all odds. It was not about Manpreet, Harmanpreet the captain, or Sreejesh the star. It was about the Indian hockey team. Each player had a role, and each performed it to perfection. Indian men’s hockey is back on track, and chances are the upward graph will continue till Paris 2024. India is currently one of the fittest teams in the world, and has defeated all the top teams in the last few months. With added self-belief and knowing full well what a second consecutive Olympic medal could do for the sport, a medal in Paris isn’t really a pipedream.
Also Read: India’s Hockey Team Targets Victory in Asian Champions Trophy