Hockey

India's national coach AK Bansal says he is ready to take more responsibility for the sake of Indian hockey.

By Ashish Bhardwaj

Q. What does the junior Asia Cup victory mean too you?

A: Indian hockey is passing through a difficult phase. Amidst this, whatever you achieve looks very nice from a distance. The Asia Cup win highlights India's potential and the roadmap has to be defined from here on. It was obviously a great win too.

Q: Do you think we have identified our core group of players for the junior World Cup next year?

A: I think we have. Essentially, if we get a better option, it makes sense to chop and change, otherwise no. We will be missing a few players like Roshan Minz. He will cross 21 next year so he won't be eligible. Rest of the squad should stay but players will have to hold on to their performance and fitness.

Q. Azlan Shah silver and now the junior Asia Cup gold. What is transforming Indian hockey?

A: I don't want to compare with the past, but team bonding has been a strong reason behind the transformation. The unity and the spirit in the squad is getting better every day and that's crucial going forward. India always had excellent players, but unity has always been at a premium.

Q. How would you trace the growth of junior team? How would you compare them with Pakistan and Korea?

A: I would reckon India are the better side compared to Pakistan or Korea. Going by recent results, India have proved their supremacy in the last three tournaments. It's not only the juniors but the senior team as well. India, Pakistan and Korea are the best in Asia. On a given day, it's the performance that distinguishes the teams.

Q. Pakistan have demanded an extra Asian berth in World Cup. Do you think this is justified?

A: Pakistan obviously want to play the junior World Cup. They are justified in their demand because they are among the top three in Asia.

Q. There were allegations of at least 6 overage players in Indian squad during the Asia Cup? You must have felt bad?

A: This is interesting. It was reported in the media that Malaysia and Singapore have complained. After this, the Malaysian coach came to me and said he never said anything like this. I think all the wrong information came from Chennai. The ugly politics in Indian hockey probably had something to do with all this nonsense.

Q. Diwakar Ram is emerging as star drag flicker. How do you rate him? How do compare him with Sandeep Singh and Len Aiyappa?

A: I think Diwakar is a great prospect. Not only at the junior level, Diwakar has already excelled with the limited opportunities he has got with the senior team. Len and Sandeep have played a lot with the senior boys, so they are far more experienced, but Diwakar will surely catch up. Because of his defensive skills, Diwakar can play a full 70-minute game, Len and Sandeep can't. Len and Sandeep are not good at defending. Comparatively, Diwakar is a more complete player.

Q. Surely there are grey areas in the team. How would you improve this before the junior World Cup?

A: During the Asia Cup, I could figure out the areas we need to improve. The forwardline has to improve co-ordination and improve its srikerate. We have time to improve.

Q. Personally, how satisfying has been your journey so far? Don't you think you should have more say in the senior team since the core has many juniors?

A: So far, the journey has been very good. Every coach dreams to rise in life and I am no different. I am prepared to take more responsibility.

Q. Will Indian hockey be any poorer without Ric Charlesworth?

A: I am not qualified enough to talk on this issue.