Bhubaneswar: India men’s hockey team coach Harendra Singh has admitted that five-six matches they will get in the Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) starting in Oman October 18 will be very crucial which will help him to have a clear picture before the World Cup which the city is hosting in the last week of November.
“Those five or six matches that we will get in the Asian Champions trophy will be very crucial for our preparations for the World Cup as it will help us to see where we stand. We will get three weeks before the mega event and we will utilise those 21 days to prepare ourselves physically, mentally and tactically,” Harendra said in the last media interaction at the Kalinga Stadium before the team fly out to Oman, Monday afternoon.
Speaking about the fitness of the team, Harendra asserted that India are currently at par with any other team in the world in terms of fitness and the whole credit goes to Robin Arkell, the scientific advisor to the team.
“Robin has done a tremendous job with the boys. The boys also responded well which made the job easier,” said the coach. When asked about the strategy they will apply in the upcoming ACT, the gaffer said, “We have only one strategy – play attacking hockey. We made frequent circle penetrations in the Asiad and we need to convert those in the ACT.”
Commenting about SV Sunil, who injured himself during the practice, Harendra informed that there is nothing to worry about. “Sunil needs two-three weeks to recover and be back into contention,” he signed off.