Call it panic or call it nerves for India, but they lost 0-1 to the United States of America in the FIH Olympic qualifiers in Ranchi on Saturday night. Playing at home in an important assignment, the Indians were funnelling back and forth, earning penalty corners as well. Yet, to make a hash of it was painful viewing for the spectators inside the stadium, as well as those watching on television.
History was against the USA as, during the qualifying phase for the Tokyo Olympics, they had been edged out by India. On Saturday, however, the Americans showed luck and pluck to beat an India side which was clueless.
There was plenty of talk that Vandana Katariya, a playmaker and brilliant goal-scorer whenever she is on the field, would not be missed. What one saw in the lung-opener was Vandana’s absence, through a cheekbone fracture, being felt to the core. There was none who was a livewire on the field, nor was there any player ready to step up.
In patches, Salima Tete may have looked like making an impact, but there was no support for her up front. The first two halves may have looked competitive but in the last two quarters India were not in the game.
How the team bungled penalty-corner chances galore was a sad sight. This loss puts pressure on the Indian team and coach Janneke Schopman. After all, India not winning a gold medal in the Asian Games in Hangzhou has led to this state of going through the qualifiers. Up next are New Zealand, again a hard side.
For those who have seen the Ranchi hockey “pitch” before, it looked bouncy. Yet, there can be no pardoning the poor trapping and errors in fundamentals.
“Having watched the Indian team during the Asian Champions Trophy and today, all I can say is I am very disappointed,” said Jagbir Singh, former India captain. “I fear for what will happen in the remainder of this tournament. If the reason for nerves is Vandana’s absence, then it’s even more scary. But yes, the turf looked bouncy.”
Zafar Iqbal, former India captain, was also dismayed by the result. “Both the wings, we dominated, but there were some nerves,” he said. “India controlled the entire game, but to miss chances is bad. The penalty corner chances should have been converted. I am still optimistic, but the fact is New Zealand will also be a tough side.”
Zafar also added that there was no standout player for India on Saturday, and attributed it to the high pressure and stakes.