IHF's target is 2008 Olympics

Having learnt its lesson from a disappointing performance at the just-concluded Sydney Olympics, the Indian Hockey Federation, it seems, is already preparing for the 2008 Games.

"We have to ensure that all concerned -- players, officials and administrators -- get over the disappointment of Sydney and return to training for the 2008 Olympic Games," IHF president K P S Gill said on Friday.

"I am not a believer in luck -- good or bad. We have to consolidate the gains that we made in Sydney and remove the defects that still remain.

"Where we lost out was not in training but at playing at least four matches in peak condition. We have played only two-and-a-half at that level," he said.

According to him, the team suffered from five major failings before going to Australia. They were: conceding a goal in the very first or second minute; allowing an equaliser to be scored in the dying minutes; poor goalkeeping; poor execution of penalty-corners and killer instinct in the rival 25-yard area.

Gill said the team improved in at least three areas: not allowing a goal to be scored in the opening minutes, goalkeeping and conversion of penalty-corners.

He said the defence of penalty-corners was excellent at Sydney, with the Indian team saving 91 per cent of the shots taken against it.

More than a psychologist, the IHF chief felt an expert with science background is needed to attend to the players in special circumstances like in case of rain, what type of stick to use and what shirts and shoes to wear, so that they play well with minimum discomfort.

"You need a psychologist only when you are not able to play in peak form over a sustained period of time," he said.

Gill said earlier the team had a mindset that did not think of a gold medal. "Now they have it because they have begun to have confidence in themselves once again."

Whatever the result at Sydney, Gill said: "The greatest gain has been the realisation, not only in India but in the whole hockey-playing world, that we have an excellent team."

He did not rule out dropping players who are catching on in years and others who have slowed down. Referring to the junior team, he said: "We are in a very happy situation with replacements there."

He said V Bhaskaran will continue as coach despite the seventh finish at the Games.

About the appointment of a foreign coach, Gill said he is awaiting a panel of names from the International Hockey Federation. "Once we receive it, we will pick one person."

He clarified that the foreign coach will assist the Indian coach and not replace him.

Reiterating that the 2008 Olympic Games is the ultimate target, Gill said the IHF's immediate objective is the World Cup qualifier, to be held in Scotland in July next year.

He said it will be cold and raining in Scotland at that time of the year and "we should be able to match those conditions in India till February."