Indian hockey team is paying the price for not playing to their strength at the Athens Olympics, said former coach Rajinder Singh while blaming a defensive approach for the side's lacklustre show in the mega tournament.
"The team had the potential to qualify for the semifinals and win a medal but it has now gone up in smoke. We should have played an attacking game, which has always been our strength," Rajinder said on Tuesday.
Rajinder, who was unceremoniously removed from the chief coach's post just a fortnight before the start of the Olympics, did not comment on the strategies of his successor Gerhard Rach of Germany. But he said the dreaded forward-line could have been used more effectively in all the matches.
"The forward line looked like as if they were playing as defenders. They were highly successful only recently. But unfortunately we did not use the strikers to the best of their abilities," said Rajinder, who was a member of the team that won the gold medal in the 1980 Moscow Games.
"We used 80 per cent of the energy on defending. The outcome could have been different had we used the same energy on attacking."
{{/usCountry}}"We used 80 per cent of the energy on defending. The outcome could have been different had we used the same energy on attacking."
{{/usCountry}}He also said he noticed the players committing a number of mistakes at crucial times.
"We must now stress on earning and scoring from penalty corners without conceding too many of them. We are also conceding goals in the dying moments," said Rajinder, himself a penalty corner expert.
Rajinder said the players were collectively responsible for the debacle although there were a few silver linings.
"Adrian (D'Souza) has been quite impressive. He has done a wonderful job. Viren (Rasquinha) has also turned out to be a very good defender and a clever player. He is also having a fine tournament."
He said the team's best showing came in the tournament against Australia, which it lost 3-4 on a last minute goal.
Rajinder also blamed poor umpiring for compounding the side's misery in the competition. "Umpiring has always gone against us," he rued.
With the side now playing for classification matches, Rajinder said it was important for it to beat Pakistan tomorrow and secure a place in this year's Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
The top five teams and the hosts will qualify for the prestigious six-nation event, which will be held in Lahore in December.