MARGAO
Former national hockey coach and Olympian Joaquim Carvalho says Manpreet Singh-led Indian team can finish on the podium at Tokyo Olympics.
“I do hope they finish on the podium,” Carvalho told 'The Goan' on Saturday.
Carvalho represented India as a player at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, 1986 World Cup, 1985 Asia Cup, 1983 & 1985 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, 1982 Esanda Cup Australia, 1982 Asian Games and 1981, 1983, 1984 & 1985 Hockey Champions Trophy. He coached the men's national hockey team at the 2008 Olympic Qualifiers, 2007 Asia Cup, 2007 Champions Challenge, 2007 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, 2007 Indo Belgium Series and 2008 Four Nations Tournament Perth & Darwin.
“The current Indian team is ranked fourth in the world which in itself is a great achievement. I am very confident they will do it (win a medal) this time. They have been doing well in the last five years,” Carvalho said.
“Fitness is their biggest asset. This team has done wonders, won the hearts of millions of fans with their recent performances, particularly the Champions Trophy (in 2016 and 2018) and the World League Finals (2015 and 2017) results. I know they can do it this time," said Carvalho.
“I want to convey to them that they should enjoy the best part of their athletic life by being calm and relaxed. I just have to say that the Olympic atmosphere is very different from test games. There is no room for slip-ups or experiments here, and self-belief and self-determination in each player are going to be the most valuable traits for the team," the former coach added.
“Our aim should be to qualify for the quarter-finals and then take it match by match. They have to stick together as one unit right until the last match of the tournament,” the Arjuna awardee, who hails from Assolna village, said.
Recalling the days when he was part of the dream Indian side at the Los Angeles Games, Carvalho reminisced, “Whenever we talk about the Los Angeles Olympics, it brings back a lot of sad memories. I would say bad umpiring cost us and we were left needing a win against West Germany. The match ended in a goalless draw and the Germans progressed to the semi-finals. It was a great missed chance.”
