Hockey Champions Trophy: India has a shot at winning finally

The Hero Champions Trophy brings back some wonderful memories of leading India to a medal in the showpiece event of the International Hockey Federation three decades ago. The bronze medal we won at Amstelveen in 1982 was the first and only podium finish for India in the Champions Trophy so far.

32 years after that, there is a tinge of sadness and disappointment as that 1982 bronze remains India’s only medal in 34 editions of the Champions Trophy. The fourth-place finish on six occasions is a small solace for Indian hockey lovers, who are again looking for a fine display by our team. This Indian team has the potential to improve upon their performances at home on two previous editions, staged in Chennai in 1996 and 2005.

This Sardar Singh-led Indian team has the capacity to pull off surprises against the higher-ranked teams. Ranked ninth in the world, the Indian team should not feel the extra pressure from home fans.

The hockey-loving fans of Odisha will turn up in huge numbers to support theIndian team which opens its campaign against Germany. Disappointed at failing to make the semi-finals of the World Cup earlier this year, Germany would be determined for an improved show. Continuing their recent practice of using this event to rejuvenate their team with young players, Germany have a substantial number of young players who are eager to showcase their talent. The Indian defence must watch out for the speedy German strikers.

In 1982, we played three outstanding matches enroute to clinching the medal. The stirring 5-4 victory over Pakistan features among the most memorable games in my international career. We rallied after trailing 0-3 at half-time and I scored the winner just a few minutes from the hooter. Victories over tough rivals Soviet Union (4-2) and formidable Germany (3-2) boosted our confidence, but the loss to hosts Netherlands (2-5) kept us on the tenterhooks ahead of the encounter against Pakistan.

The India-Pakistan contest was an exhibition of artistic hockey at its best and produced nine goals. Conceding three goals in the first session, we were pushed back by Pakistan’s strikers, but rallied to equalise through a hattrick of penalty corners by Rajinder Singh Senior, whose firm drives asserted his status among the best penalty corner specialists in the world.

Pakistan went ahead again, but Gurmail Singh converted a penalty stroke to make it 4-4 and I was delighted to score the winner in the closing stages.

I was actually trying to put centre-forward Surinder Singh Sodhi in possession with the cross that got deflected into the goal off Pakistan’s custodian. The celebrations among Indian fans in the galleries made it a day to remember forever. The victory ensured India a medal despite the big loss to Australia (2-7) in our last league fixture. Can Sardar and his team end the 32-year drought? Potential wise, they can, but we will only get to know in ten days time.