IPOH (Malaysia): India will look to start their campaign on a good note once they tackle World No. 2 Argentina within the opening sport of the 27th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey on Saturday.
ALSO READ: No room for complacency, says Sjoerd Marijne
The Sardar Singh-led staff post a battle in opposition to World No. 1 Australia before going down 1-2 in a warm-up sport on Thursday.
ALSO READ: Sardar assured of fine display at Sultan Azlan Shah Cup
Though the staff lost with vice-captain Ramandeep Singh scoring India's lone goal, leader trainer Sjoerd Marijne was once constructive.
"We played three quarters against Australia to adjust to the humidity. I was happy with a lot of things. For the first match together with this new combination, we put a good performance and we will use this to prepare for the opening game against Argentina."
India remaining played in opposition to Argentina within the World League Final in Bhubaneswar the place the hosts lost a spot within the title-round after dropping Zero-1.
"Like I have said in the past, I don't consider that result as the playing conditions were not normal. We played in incessant rain and the only thing we learnt from that match against Argentina is that they were better in such conditions," said Marijne.
Olympic champions Argentina, meanwhile, are within the city with out the products and services in their celebrated trainer Carlos Retegui who has resigned from the top job.
It was once under the tutelage of Retegui that Argentina had received their best Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in 2008, beating India 2-1 within the final.
Though it'll be attention-grabbing to look how the facet does within the absence of Retegui, the squad stays sturdy with Gonzalo Peillat, Lucas Rossi, Juan Manuel Vivaldi, Pedro Ibarra, Matias Paredas.
It is attention-grabbing to notice that under Sardar's captaincy, the Indian staff has never returned home from Sultan Azlan Shah with no medal.
In 2008, he captained the staff to a silver medal, and in 2015 and 2016 he led them to a bronze and silver respectively.
But this time, within the absence of key avid gamers Akashdeep Singh, SV Sunil, Mandeep Singh within the ahead line, Manpreet Singh within the midfield, goalkeeper PR Sreejesh and dragflick consultants Rupinder Pal Singh and Harmanpreet Singh who're rested, Sardar will have to be sure his more youthful counterparts shake off the initial anxiety and persist with a structured sport chalked out by way of the trainer.
"While a winning start is what we look for, it's important for the team to execute the structure we want to play in. There is no room for error when you play a team like Argentina and we cannot let their 'Olympic champions' tag intimidate us. I am hopeful we will stitch together a good performance," said the 31-year-old skipper.
"The practice match against Australia has given the first-timers an insight into what they can expect and I am sure they will take that confidence into the opening game as well."
India's 2nd match on Sunday can be in opposition to England, who have retained 10 avid gamers from the squad that received the identify remaining 12 months. But for now, Sardar and his staff's focal point is on day after today's match.
"We want to take it one match at a time and for now our focus is on doing well against Argentina," Singh signed off.
ALSO READ: No room for complacency, says Sjoerd Marijne
The Sardar Singh-led staff post a battle in opposition to World No. 1 Australia before going down 1-2 in a warm-up sport on Thursday.
ALSO READ: Sardar assured of fine display at Sultan Azlan Shah Cup
Though the staff lost with vice-captain Ramandeep Singh scoring India's lone goal, leader trainer Sjoerd Marijne was once constructive.
"We played three quarters against Australia to adjust to the humidity. I was happy with a lot of things. For the first match together with this new combination, we put a good performance and we will use this to prepare for the opening game against Argentina."
India remaining played in opposition to Argentina within the World League Final in Bhubaneswar the place the hosts lost a spot within the title-round after dropping Zero-1.
"Like I have said in the past, I don't consider that result as the playing conditions were not normal. We played in incessant rain and the only thing we learnt from that match against Argentina is that they were better in such conditions," said Marijne.
Olympic champions Argentina, meanwhile, are within the city with out the products and services in their celebrated trainer Carlos Retegui who has resigned from the top job.
It was once under the tutelage of Retegui that Argentina had received their best Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in 2008, beating India 2-1 within the final.
Though it'll be attention-grabbing to look how the facet does within the absence of Retegui, the squad stays sturdy with Gonzalo Peillat, Lucas Rossi, Juan Manuel Vivaldi, Pedro Ibarra, Matias Paredas.
It is attention-grabbing to notice that under Sardar's captaincy, the Indian staff has never returned home from Sultan Azlan Shah with no medal.
In 2008, he captained the staff to a silver medal, and in 2015 and 2016 he led them to a bronze and silver respectively.
But this time, within the absence of key avid gamers Akashdeep Singh, SV Sunil, Mandeep Singh within the ahead line, Manpreet Singh within the midfield, goalkeeper PR Sreejesh and dragflick consultants Rupinder Pal Singh and Harmanpreet Singh who're rested, Sardar will have to be sure his more youthful counterparts shake off the initial anxiety and persist with a structured sport chalked out by way of the trainer.
"While a winning start is what we look for, it's important for the team to execute the structure we want to play in. There is no room for error when you play a team like Argentina and we cannot let their 'Olympic champions' tag intimidate us. I am hopeful we will stitch together a good performance," said the 31-year-old skipper.
"The practice match against Australia has given the first-timers an insight into what they can expect and I am sure they will take that confidence into the opening game as well."
India's 2nd match on Sunday can be in opposition to England, who have retained 10 avid gamers from the squad that received the identify remaining 12 months. But for now, Sardar and his staff's focal point is on day after today's match.
"We want to take it one match at a time and for now our focus is on doing well against Argentina," Singh signed off.
India begin Azlan Shah campaign against World No. 2 Argentina
![India begin Azlan Shah campaign against World No. 2 Argentina]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
March 03, 2018
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