Gill all praise for junior hockey team

Indian Hockey Federation chief K P S Gill on Monday said the success of the junior team at the World Cup was due to the players' ability to adapt themselves to adverse weather conditions and play quality hockey against every side.

India created history by clinching its maiden junior World Cup title, after thrashing Argentina 6-1 in the final at Hobart on Sunday.

"Everyone whom I met after the match spoke of the very high standards the Indians displayed during the final... the most important thing was the self-confidence and will power the boys displayed," Gill said.

He said it was the junior team's ability to adapt themselves to chilly and rainy conditions that really made the difference.

The senior team floundered at the Sydney Olympics because "some of the things I asked them to do, they did not do... so when rain came in the Poland match, they were just incapable of rising to the occasion," he said.

"When the (junior) team arrived in Hobart, it was raining and the tempratures were very low. Even when we were playing against Holland (in the second round league phase), it was drizzling and the weather was very cold... but they managed to play very well indeed," Gill said.

He said the team has some very bright players and it is good they are getting international exposure at a very young age.

"Each one of them now has international experience and exposure. They now have been able to assess all foreign teams which is very important," he said.

Meanwhile, senior indian hockey team skipper Mukesh Kumar congratulated the Indian colts, saying: ''I am happy that the junior boys have won the World championship.''

The three-time Olympian said the victories over teams like the Netherlands, Germany and Argentina were not small achievements as the players of those countries had been training for at least six years before the World Cup.

''We the senior Indian team would like to emulate the juniors in the senior World Cup, to be held in Malaysia in March next,'' the three-time Olympian said.

''I congratulate team skipper Gagan Ajit Singh and also Deepak Thakur for scoring a hat-trick in the final,'' Mukesh added.

Pat from the PM

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said the triumph brought back memories of the golden days of Indian hockey.

''The win is a fitting tribute to the zest, spirit and stamina of the Indian youth,'' Vajpayee said.

He said the win is a particularly cherished one as the juniors brought back fond memories of the golden era of Indian hockey.

Victory will revive interest in the game: Uma

Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Uma Bharati said the country is proud of its budding hockey champions. She hoped that in future also the players would maintain excellent standards and emerge winners at international events.

The victory will boost the revival of interest in the game across the country, she added.

Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi also hailed the team's performance.

''This was a great job done,'' Kalmadi said, adding the victory would immensely help the long term prospects for Indian hockey.

A host of former hockey internationals joined in heaping praise on the Indian junior team, saying now is the right time for the Indian Hockey Federation to build for the future.

Former India goalkeeper Mir Ranjan Negi said the triumph is the best thing to happen to Indian hockey after the 1998 Asian gold medal.

''That time we missed on reviving the team, but the IHF should not let go of the opportunity now,'' he said.

Negi also felt it is one of the very few medal-winning sports in India and it should be projected well.

Mohd. Shahid, one of the pillars of the Indian team in the eighties, felt the IHF and government should first give "these youngsters" a grand welcome. "Otherwise they would get discouraged," he said.

"The win has brought a new life to the dying game. The victory is a sign of good days ahead for Indian hockey," he added.

Another former international, Gavin Fereira felt the triumph would give a boost to the game in the country.

"Now the IHF should be very meticulous in nurturing these youngsters," he said.

He also said that these players should not be worried about their future after their playing days are over. "Making them financially sound is very important," he added.

Complete Coverage: 7th Junior Men's World Cup 2001