A bustling Major Dhyan Chand Stadium in New Delhi will take centerstage for the next couple of days when hockey returns to its hallowed turf as India host World champions Germany for a bilateral series. This venue, once termed as the ‘temple of Indian hockey’, has waited nearly 10 years to play host to an international fixture.
With Odisha becoming the center of Indian hockey, the stadium in the national capital was relegated to host departmental competitions. To the unaware, the last-minute repair work, dusting of the stands, and installation of banners on the team dug-outs for branding purposes less than 24 hours before the first of the two-match series gets underway would be enough to indicate that the venue has been gathering dust so to speak in the absence of international exposure. It’s a pity that the venue dubbed as the ‘National Stadium’ is only hosting its first international match since the 2014 World League Final even when a host of high-profile tournaments have been held in the country during the same period. Better late than never.
Meanwhile, the Indian men’s team was put to paces on a warm Tuesday afternoon with coach Craig Fulton overseeing the session. The players, after warming up, dispersed into several groups of two each working on their passes. The returning Mandeep Singh joined captain Harmanpreet Singh helping the latter polish his aerial passes. They moved to a frenetic drill where they were divided into two teams – one unleashing a wave of attacks as the other defended. The two goalkeepers were then put to the test as they scrambled to defend lightning-fast drag-flicks.
An India-Germany clash on the hockey field has the knack of producing thrillers. The most recent offering was at the Paris Olympics where the Germans prevailed 3-2 in a pulsating semifinal. Three years ago, it was an Indian team that defeated Germany 5-4 for their first-ever Olympic medal in over four decades. Ledger balanced? For the time being.
On Wednesday afternoon, the two teams will renew their fierce rivalry with Germany – the current world champions and Olympic silver medalists – aiming to improve their recent domination over India.
Interestingly, this will be Harmanpreet’s first international match at this iconic venue while it is here that current India head coach Fulton made his international debut for South Africa in 1995.
A bilateral series provides teams with some freedom to test themselves on different parameters, unlike the tournaments where there’s something riding on every game. Neither of the two teams is at full strength, coach Fulton informed the media but Harmanpreet promised there will be no let up from the Paris Olympic bronze medalists.
The series provides India an opportunity to blood in youngsters with midfielder Rajinder Singh and striker Aditya Arjun Lagale set to make international debuts. Fulton said they have started developing a new core group ahead of the next World Cup and LA Olympics.
“If you look at it from now to the World Cup, and to LA, we are trying to open up the selection and pick a new core group that will take us from now to the World Cup and from World Cup to LA,” Fulton said.
The matches will be played on October 23rd and October 24th from 3 PM onwards and the organisers with free entry for the spectators.
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