June 5th, 2009 
Aman Recent Performances Indian national hockey team has got fifth position In the Asian cup played in Malaysia and it has distressed the Indian hockey lovers. At one hand it was being expected that Indian team will repeat its previous month’s performance but on the other hand it could not qualify even for the semifinal of the Asian cup. It must be learnt that last month Indian team had won the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Cup after the gap of fourteen years. We can say that Indian team’s performance is like the swing of pendulum and nobody can predict its performance. Two years ago, in the final of the Asia cup that was played in Chennai, Indian team had secured a thumping victory over their arch-rivals Pakistan. Before that, they had failed to qualify even for the semifinal of the last two tournaments. They had failed even to qualify for the 2008’s Olympic Games. A ray of hope was seen from Indian team’s success in the Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and Punjab Gold Cup performances. The victory of the Azlan Shah Cup had given rise to the hopes that Indian team will repeat its success story of 2003 to 2007 under the Coaching of Harinder Singh. But the Indian team’s recent failure once again reminded us about its pendulum-story. Asia Cup’s eight times winner’s return to their homeland empty handed is hurting the hockey lovers. Seven teams had taken part in the Asia Cup and India was positioned at the fifth position after the competition. It defeated Bangladesh by 11-1 while faced defeat by 3-2 in the hands of arch rivals Pakistan. It had tied with China by 2-2 while had defeated Japan by 5-1. South Korea lifted the cup by defeating Pakistan in the final. Challenges Ahead Delhi Commonwealth games and the 2010’s Hockey world Cup are the two main challenges for the Indian Hockey Team ahead. It is the fortune that Asia Cup winner gets straight entry into the World Cup competition and India is taking part in this tournament because it is hosting the cup. Twelve teams will take part in this games and it is the hurting fact that Indian team’s ranking in this cup it 12th. It is very distressful fact that eight times winner of World Cup is so low ranked. After the fall of Gill-Jyotikumaran dictatorship, Indian Olympic Association is in charge of the [...]
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