There were glorious tidings from Incheon in South Korea where the Indian hockey team regained lost glory in winning the Asian Games gold medal after a gap of 16 years. The resultant direct entry to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 should save the nation, which still harps on hockey being its national game, any heartaches in the qualifying process. But a sobering thought here: the team had finished last in the London Olympics two years ago.
Doubling the happiness in the landing of the gold is that the medal came in a triumph over arch-rival Pakistan in a pulsating final decided on a penalty shootout after a spirited India fought back from a deficit of a goal. The style of play was, however, more Continental than Asian, but this is modern hockey played on artificial turf with fast breaks and power and speed dictating how the game goes rather than dribbling and showy stickwork.
India seems to have measured up to playing in the new style. Sreejesh was good right through regulation time and brilliant in the tie-breaker in which he saved two penalties. The fact that India finished the game strongly, enjoying chances to win the match in match time itself rather than in the nervy shootout, may invest future campaigns with hope under a new coach. Of course, one swallow does not a summer make. The best teams in the world will be at the Olympics and they will represent a challenge on an altogether higher plane.
