Asian Champions Trophy: India winning only a bronze should serve as a wake-up call, says former Olympic medallist

Asian Champions Trophy: After a historic bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, the Indian hockey team had to be content with a bronze at the Asian Champions Trophy held in Dhaka. The joint defending champions beat Pakistan 4-3 in a pulsating third-fourth place play-off match on Wednesday. India had earlier been beaten by Japan 3-5 in the semifinals on Tuesday. Follow hockey updates on InsideSport.IN

Also read: India beat Pakistan: Varun, Akashdeep fire 4th quarter goals as India secure bronze with a 4-3 win

Considering the historic high in Tokyo and the upcoming challenges in 2022 including the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, a lot was expected of Manpreet Singh and his team. Despite missing a few Olympic stars, reaching the final was bare minimum considering the withdrawal of Malaysia from the competition.

Asian Champions Trophy: India winning only a bronze should serve as a wake-up call, says former Olympic medallist

“I feel the team did not have the requisite mentality. They started slowly against Japan and were punished. You cannot take any opposition lightly and it seemed like the team might have been overconfident,” former India skipper and Olympics bronze winner in 1972, MP Ganesh told InsideSport.

Asian Champions Trophy: India had to settle for a bronze after beating Pakistan

India were without inspirational keeper PR Sreejesh, forwards Simranjeet Singh – who scored two goals in the bronze-medal match – Gurjant Singh and Mandeep Singh, midfielder Nilakanta Sharma and defenders Amit Rohidas and Surender Kumar.

Coach Graham Reid wanted to experiment and build a deep and strong squad considering the challenges ahead. Coupled with the decline in Asian hockey standards, the Asian Champions Trophy was supposed to be the ideal stage for Reid to experiment.

Asian Champions Trophy: India winning only a bronze should serve as a wake-up call, says former Olympic medallist

But the former India coach refused to be drawn into such talks. “When you are part of the Indian team, you should be playing like lions. But that was not the case in the semifinals. I don’t want to comment on individual players but it has been a poor performance and this should serve as a wake-up call,” MP Ganesh added.

A magnificent game of 🏑 comes to an end, with the #MenInBlue managing to beat Pakistan and taking the third position in the Hero Men’s Asian Champions Trophy Dhaka 2021. 💙#IndiaKaGame #HeroACT2021 pic.twitter.com/MJCAvYjNgy

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) December 22, 2021

The Arjuna awardee also mentioned how crucial it was that India played well and won in this tournament as the nation had suddenly rediscovered its love affair with the sport.

“This was the first time the Indian team was seen in action post the Tokyo Olympics. And with crucial fixtures like FIH Pro League, Asian Games and CWG coming up, India need to try and build on the momentum generated by the Tokyo showing, not squander it with displays like in Dhaka. Its high time everyone associated with the sport does not let the momentum slip away.”

Asian Champions Trophy: India winning only a bronze should serve as a wake-up call, says former Olympic medallist

India took the lead in the very first minute through vice-captain Harmanpreet Singh before Sumit (45th), Varun Kumar (53rd) and Akashdeep Singh (57th) struck a goal each. Pakistan’s goals were scored by Afraz (10th), Abdul Rana (33rd) and Ahmed Nadeem (57th). It was India’s second win over Pakistan in the tournament after having beaten the same opponents 3-1 in the round-robin stages.

Coming into the tournament as hot favourites and having topped the round-robin stage with an unbeaten record, the Indians would be disappointed to return with a bronze. In the summit clash late on Wednesday, South Korea will play Japan.

Asian Champions Trophy: India winning only a bronze should serve as a wake-up call, says former Olympic medallist