The Indian hockey eves need to come good against the top teams in their pursuit of a second successive Asia Cup title, writes M.S. Unnikrishnan

THE Indian women’s hockey team won their maiden Asia Cup crown in New Delhi three years ago. Now, they face an uphill task trying to defend it in the sixth edition of the tournament, beginning in Hong Kong today.

India are placed in Group A with China, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, while Group B consists of Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei.

India take on Malaysia in their first match tomorrow. Luckily, two tough teams — Korea and Japan — are in the other group. However, India are up against Asian Games gold medallists China.

The Indian women can progress to the summit clash if they chalk out a water-tight strategy to counter Japan or Korea in the semifinal. India, under new coach Gurudayal Singh Bhangu (Dronacharya awardee) are fielding a blend of raw and experienced players. Three girls are set to make their international debut — midfielders Rosalind Ralte and A Manorama Devi and forward Kirandeep Kaur.

The group of veterans comprises defender Suman Bala, midfielder Subhadra Pradhan and forwards Saba Anjum, Surinder Kaur, Jasjeet Kaur and captain Mamta Kharab, who were all part of the title-winning squad in 2004.

India’s game plan will no doubt revolve around the core group, though in goalkeeping, they will miss the experience of Helen Mary. It will take Marita Tirkey and Poonam Toppo time to attain the stature of Mary, who stepped aside to make way for youngsters.

The Indian Women’s Hockey Federation is looking towards the future, and it’s a timely move to test out promising players to form a compact combination for the 2008 Beijing Olympics (if they qualify) and the 2010 Asian Games.

Bhangu has been associated with the junior women’s team for quite some time, but this will be his first outing as the senior team’s coach, though he has been at the helm for a little over five months.

The women’s Asia Cup began in Seoul (South Korea) in 1985 as a platform for teams to qualify for the World Cup. But this time, for India, the position they secure in the event will be beneficial while competing in the Olympic qualifiers to be held in March-April next year.

The Asia Cup has been dominated by South Korea, having won the title three times, while China and India have lifted the crown once each.

India, who skipped the inaugural edition, have been making a progressive climb to the top. They finished fourth at the second edition in Hong Kong (1989), third at Hiroshima (1993), second in Delhi (1999) and first in 2004 (Delhi).

Being the defending champions, India will be playing under pressure in alien conditions. But those who were fortunate to witness the brilliant golden goal by Jasjeet Kaur in the 2004 final can never forget the inspirational display of the team under coach MK Kaushik.

India drubbed Malaysia 4-2, drew with China 1-1 and swamped Kazakhstan 8-0 to top the group. They then stunned Korea 5-0 in the semifinal and shut out Japan to lift the Cup, with Shahbad girl Jasjeet winning the hearts of one and all with her stellar performance.

It would be somewhat difficult for India to match their last time’s performance, but former coach Kaushik felt that they were capable of doing an encore. He noted that India should play to a plan if they wanted to get past Japan and Korea.

Kaushik said though women’s hockey had come a long way since their title triumph in the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi, much needed to be done to popularise the game, which could be achieved if more and more departmental teams started competing.

The turnaround should have come after India bagged the gold at the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games. Sadly, that has not happened. Last year, the eves finished 11th among 12 teams at the World Cup in Madrid, while they earned a silver at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

THE Federation Cup was started by the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) in 1977 to provide a national tournament for the leading clubs of the country. The AIFF took the onerous task of holding the championship under its aegis, and the Federation Cup became an instant hit. Players from various states turned up for their clubs, creating a paradox in loyalty as club mates often turned bitter rivals when they represented their respective state teams in the National Championship for the Santosh Trophy.

Normally, the Federation Cup follows the Santosh Trophy, but this year, due to the inability of the Jammu and Kashmir Football Association to host the National Championship in Srinagar due to security reasons, the Punjab Football Association is hosting the Cup, ahead of the nationals, at the Guru Nanak Stadium in Ludhiana from September 4 to 15.

Ironically, Punjab have never hosted the Federation Cup, though two clubs teams from the state — JCT and Border Security Force — have clinched the title twice and once, respectively. Kerala, who hosted the inaugural edition at the Maharajas College ground in Ernakulam, went on to play host to the championship six more times, while Bengal conducted the event six times.

Various state associations organised the championship till 1995. But the AIFF changed its format from 1996 to 1998 when it succeeded in roping in a liquor company as sponsors and christened it as the Kalyani Black Label Cup.

The title winners during this period were given a hefty prize money of Rs 15 lakh. But when the liquor company pulled out following a government fiat that no liquor or tobacco company would be allowed to sponsor sports events, the Federation Cup was left in the lurch, forcing the AIFF to skip it in 1999 and 2000. But it was revived when the Tatas stepped in to sponsor it in Chennai in 2001.

Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan, who beat Goan club Dempo to win the revived edition in 2001, hold the record of winning the title 12 times and finishing runners-up on four occasions. Bagan’s city rivals East Bengal have won the title four times and finished runners-up on seven occasions, while Mohammedan Sporting bagged the title twice and ended up runners-up thrice to establish the domination of the Bengal teams in the championship.

Salgaocar (Goa) have the next best record, winning the title thrice and finishing runners-up as many times, while Mahindra United, Kerala Police and JCT have won the title twice each.

Though the emergence of Mahindra United and Sporting Clube de Goa has threatened to end the domination of the top Bengal clubs, Mohun Bagan reasserted their supremacy when they beat Sporting Clube to regain the Cup in Kolkata last year.

Former international player and national coach Sukhwinder Singh, who is closely associated with the organisation of the Federation Cup in Ludhiana, said the Guru Nanak Stadium ground was in excellent condition, and he expected the championship to generate enough interest to give a shot in the arm to the sport in the state.

He said Punjab had not been able to bid for the Cup earlier due to the turbulent phase the state went through in the eighties. He said the Nehru Cup had generated interest in the game, and hoped to cash in on the wave during the Federation Cup.

Former international player and Indian captain Inder Singh said Punjab football stood to gain a lot by hosting the event, and he expected the championship to attract spectators in droves.

With the AIFF managing the nitty-gritty of sponsorship of the event, and the state association getting subsidy to host it, Punjab can make a great success of the event.

After the National Football League, the Federation Cup is the richest football tournament organised under the AIFF umbrella with a total prize money of Rs 25 lakh. Sixteen teams will vie for the top prize of Rs 12 lakh, while the runners-up will get Rs 7 lakh.

The teams are: JCT, Vasco, Mohammedan Sporting, East Bengal, Air India, Viva Kerala, ONGC, Mohun Bagan, Dempo, Chirag United, Salgaocar, Churchill Brothers, Mahindra United, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd Sports Club, Army XI and Sporting Clube de Goa.

As a welcome step, the AIFF has permitted corporate club ONGC to take part in the Federation Cup, besides giving an opportunity to promising new clubs on the block, such as Viva Kerala and Chirag United, to take on the top sides in the 16-team Federation Cup. — M.S.U.

LIKE a good son, Tyson Gay listened to his mother’s advice and became the 100m world champion. "I was having lots of negative thoughts," Gay said of the anxious hours before his eagerly anticipated final showdown with Jamaican Asafa Powell at the World Athletics Championships in Osaka.

Then he talked to his mother. "She told me to make myself a believer," Gay told reporters.

That the American sprint king did, roaring past Powell to claim his first global title.

Gay clocked 9.85 seconds for the victory, with Bahamas’ Derrick Atkins a surprising second in 9.91 seconds. Powell faded to third in 9.96.

"It’s the happiest day in my life," said Gay.

"My start was excellent," the Kentucky thoroughbred said, "and after about 70 metres I knew I had a great chance of winning."

With 10 metres to go, he knew he had won.

"I just ran hard to the finish line," Gay said.

The loss was a major setback for Powell, who has never won a global title despite having clocked a world record 9.77 seconds three times.

"I just tightened up and panicked," said Powell who had run impressively in the rounds.

"I just made a big mistake in the final," Powell added. "I tightened up and it cost me the race." Despite his new crown, Gay would not describe himself as the favourite for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"Beijing is another year," he said. "I am looking forward to racing Atkins and Asafa. He’s still the world record holder, hands down.

"He got a medal, I got a medal. I just happened to be victorious this time." — Reuters

IN THE NEWS
Bell tolls

BEFORE and during the 2007 World Cup, Ian Bell was criticised because his innings tended to taper off after a good start. However, now, under the guidance of Andy Flower, England’s batting coach, this no longer seems to be the case.

The 25-year-old now places the ball expertly into gaps and seems totally in control. A couple of straight sixes off leg-spinner Piyush Chawla in the third ODI at Birmingham showed that he could clear the rope when it was needed, even though he now possesses the confidence to leave the fireworks to those whom it suits more readily.

Bell top-scored in each of the first three one-day games against India, hitting one century and two fifties. It is on the back of his batting that England were able to amass totals greater than 280 in each of these matches.

His unbeaten 126 in the first match at Southampton was his first ODI century, coming in as late as his 48th match. With six tons in 30 games, he is no doubt regarded as more suitable for Test cricket. Nevertheless, Bell is fast improving in one-dayers, and is relishing the No. 3 position. — Agencies