NEW DELHI: When Graham Reid used to be appointed trainer of the Indian males's hockey staff a month ago, Ric Charlesworth described him because the "man with the required ambition". That remark used to be now not without reason why. The training legend had seen Reid from shut quarters, as his understudy within the Australia camp, and believed he had a "firm view as to how India should be encouraged to play". So it used to be quite natural for Reid to speak about the 'India task' with his training guru, once the offer got here his approach. With things panning out as he wanted them to, the 54-year-old is now central to India's quest for a Tokyo Olympic berth and a excellent performance at the biggest degree. Or as Charlesworth put it for his former scholar, Reid now has the whole lot in place to "utilise India's best weapon -- it's skilled players."
In a week's time, the Queensland-born Reid will sit for his first actual take a look at -- the FIH Series Finals in Bhubaneswar, which is the preliminary segment of Olympic qualifiers for India. World No. five India will not be required to head through a tricky take a look at within the tournament the place the following very best staff is ranked No. 16; however on his lung-opener as India trainer in Australia, Reid would have had an even concept the place this staff can cross mistaken. India lost each the Tests in opposition to the Kookaburras, conceding nine targets in general.
The "secret desire" of each and every hockey trainer, as Reid famously described the India task, can come back to hurt you in no time. But within the infancy of his position with India, it will be the last item on Reid's thoughts. On the contrary, his repeated tension on "utmost respect for the opposition" means that neither would he take anything calmly, nor would he allow the boys to do that.
Time, regardless that, may even play a crucial position here. The 1992 Olympic silver medallist has taken over the reigns at a juncture the place time is at a top class. But the positive approach of having a look at it could be that the international calendar is not overloaded adore it used to be in 2018 and there is sufficient breathing space to plan and continue, which is what any trainer would want.
Excerpts from an interview...
Qualifying for the Olympics is obviously the biggest goal for your first few months as India trainer. How do you view the road to that target?
Any qualification for the Olympic Games is hard. It's like anything this is worth having is hard to achieve. Our first step is that this FIH Series Final in Bhubaneswar. That's my focal point. I am not anxious about anything in this day and age to be totally truthful. And I am not anxious about anything else than the primary couple of games. While you'll want to have the focus and, after all, now we have carried out all the making plans, our first step is to finish within the most sensible two in this tournament to get some rating points. It will put us as high as imaginable within the final degree of the Olympic qualifiers in November. But first thing we want to make sure is that we are taking part in at our very best by the time we begin in opposition to Russia next week.
(Photo Credit: Hockey India)
The box in Bhubaneswar is quite numerous, particularly in terms of ratings. After No. five India, South Africa are the following very best at No. 16. The Indian staff can't be complacent however is that a threat when taking part in in opposition to lower-ranked teams?
It's something once more that I do not actually purchase into. I always deal with the opposition with utmost respect, whoever you play. My message to the staff can be it makes no difference how you performed the day gone by, it makes no difference how you are going to play the next day. The essential part is what you do these days. For example, in opposition to Russia, we can be getting ready as regardless that it's the final. I feel that's how you get consistency and function. You want to prepare as regardless that your life depends upon it. We can be leaving no stone unturned for each and every sport and that's the mentality that I hope we will be able to show.
You had said that the Australia tour equipped a excellent bench-mark as to the extent India needs to be at? Can you percentage some of your conclusions from the tour?
I feel one of the vital big differences between the way in which India play, perhaps regionally as well, is the power of the gamers. We are a smaller race, I feel, in case you are to be totally truthful, and now we have different talents. I was just chatting with anyone the other day in regards to the different talents that, for example, Australia, Holland or India have. They are all actually high-class talents. They are all different. The challenge for us is going to be to work out the way in which how we will be able to become our Indian talents into the modern sport. Part of the sport is shifting extra against the bodily presence, and that's what now we have to try and re-create in our coaching atmosphere so that they (gamers) are used to it.
You have stressed out upon being constant. India have been struggling to achieve that winning mentality for years now. What do you assume is lacking?
Rather than considering of what is lacking, I generally try to move against what we want to do; and for me, it's in regards to the preparation and the figuring out of the opposition. It must be the same at all times. It does not topic whether or not you are taking part in Russia, Uzbekistan, Australia or Holland, we want to deal with them with utmost respect and in addition want to have the same preparation for every sport, the same across quarters. The fourth quarter we want to play just in addition to we do within the first quarter, as a result of one of the vital things that you can't do is flip off and on like a tap. I feel on occasion that's what happens, other folks get below the influence that you can transfer off and on. No, you can't. You must earn it, paintings exhausting and do all those things that make it difficult.
(Photo Credit: Hockey India)
The temperature all the way through the tournament in Bhubaneswar could also be within the 40s, with very high levels of humidity. Do you consider that's an extra hurdle for the visiting teams and an advantage for India, who are used to scorching conditions?
It's a captivating thing. I do not know in regards to the preparation, for example, Russia and Poland have been doing; however I do know we performed in some tricky conditions all the way through the last 4 months here and now we have been here now for a week and a part. When you talk to our power and conditioning trainer, it takes 10 to 14 days to acclimatize to those conditions. By the time the tournament starts, we might have been here for sufficient time to get to that degree. So to reply to your query, I can't remark at the opposition teams however I do know we can be able the place, expectantly, the weather plays a minimum part.
The Asian Games had a equivalent lopsided box within the group degree, during which India scored a global report 76 targets and registered their biggest ever win of 26-0 in opposition to Hong Kong. But we lost our first actual competitive sport within the semis to Malaysia. Do you consider you'll want to remind the boys about that costly slip of theirs ahead of this tournament?
It's a captivating query. For me, I feel part of the problem with having a look back is that you just tend to have your personal view about what came about. I would like to keep them involved in what we want to do at the day. When you deal with the opposition with respect, you play as exhausting as you can, you attempt to win, then the ranking takes care of itself. You can most effective do that in opposition to an opposition that you're required to play in opposition to. So to reply to your query, I feel the gamers will, after all, have that experience of whatever they performed within the last length (in Asian Games semis) and I am hoping that they learn from that. From my point of view, I'd simply be involved in ensuring (we do) what we want to do at the day.
India want to finish within the most sensible two here and many people are already speaking about a final between India and Asian Games champions Japan. Will you are saying Japan are essentially the most difficult opponent within the tournament?
Here's an excellent example of what I was pronouncing ahead of. I in truth favor now not to discuss those things. That will get you having a look at the consequence, now not the method, as a result of quite a lot of things can occur. You noticed it in (the FIH Series Finals) Malaysia the place you idea this staff will win or that staff, however it does not occur. For me, I play with the playing cards that are in front of me, and we can cross from there.
Poland and South Africa was once very competitive a couple of years back, however India have not performed them a lot within the contemporary past. How do you price these teams?
That for me is the essential part. I price them as high as I possibly can, as a result of the last thing you need to do is be complacent. For anyone like Poland, we performed in opposition to them lately at Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. So the staff is already having a look at those movies and ensuring that we take essentially the most of what we accomplished or didn't reach all the way through that sport.
Finally, are you pleased with the structure of Olympic qualification, particularly making an allowance for that the much-debated FIH ratings will make a decision who India face within the final two-match qualification spherical against the end of this yr?
It's a captivating catch 22 situation, as a result of I feel I have attempted about 15 occasions to work out the different permutations (smiles). It's just about impossible to do that. I was speaking ahead of about things you can control and things you can't control. At the moment, what we will be able to control is how we do in this tournament. From thereon, we can paintings it out. But yes, it's difficult to get your head across so far as the place we could finish up (in ratings). As a ways as I'm involved, what I will be able to control is how we play here. The higher we do all the way through this tournament, the easier likelihood of being high in that 14-team competition, which is the last degree of Olympic qualifiers.
In a week's time, the Queensland-born Reid will sit for his first actual take a look at -- the FIH Series Finals in Bhubaneswar, which is the preliminary segment of Olympic qualifiers for India. World No. five India will not be required to head through a tricky take a look at within the tournament the place the following very best staff is ranked No. 16; however on his lung-opener as India trainer in Australia, Reid would have had an even concept the place this staff can cross mistaken. India lost each the Tests in opposition to the Kookaburras, conceding nine targets in general.
The "secret desire" of each and every hockey trainer, as Reid famously described the India task, can come back to hurt you in no time. But within the infancy of his position with India, it will be the last item on Reid's thoughts. On the contrary, his repeated tension on "utmost respect for the opposition" means that neither would he take anything calmly, nor would he allow the boys to do that.
Time, regardless that, may even play a crucial position here. The 1992 Olympic silver medallist has taken over the reigns at a juncture the place time is at a top class. But the positive approach of having a look at it could be that the international calendar is not overloaded adore it used to be in 2018 and there is sufficient breathing space to plan and continue, which is what any trainer would want.
Excerpts from an interview...
Qualifying for the Olympics is obviously the biggest goal for your first few months as India trainer. How do you view the road to that target?
Any qualification for the Olympic Games is hard. It's like anything this is worth having is hard to achieve. Our first step is that this FIH Series Final in Bhubaneswar. That's my focal point. I am not anxious about anything in this day and age to be totally truthful. And I am not anxious about anything else than the primary couple of games. While you'll want to have the focus and, after all, now we have carried out all the making plans, our first step is to finish within the most sensible two in this tournament to get some rating points. It will put us as high as imaginable within the final degree of the Olympic qualifiers in November. But first thing we want to make sure is that we are taking part in at our very best by the time we begin in opposition to Russia next week.
(Photo Credit: Hockey India)
The box in Bhubaneswar is quite numerous, particularly in terms of ratings. After No. five India, South Africa are the following very best at No. 16. The Indian staff can't be complacent however is that a threat when taking part in in opposition to lower-ranked teams?
It's something once more that I do not actually purchase into. I always deal with the opposition with utmost respect, whoever you play. My message to the staff can be it makes no difference how you performed the day gone by, it makes no difference how you are going to play the next day. The essential part is what you do these days. For example, in opposition to Russia, we can be getting ready as regardless that it's the final. I feel that's how you get consistency and function. You want to prepare as regardless that your life depends upon it. We can be leaving no stone unturned for each and every sport and that's the mentality that I hope we will be able to show.
You had said that the Australia tour equipped a excellent bench-mark as to the extent India needs to be at? Can you percentage some of your conclusions from the tour?
I feel one of the vital big differences between the way in which India play, perhaps regionally as well, is the power of the gamers. We are a smaller race, I feel, in case you are to be totally truthful, and now we have different talents. I was just chatting with anyone the other day in regards to the different talents that, for example, Australia, Holland or India have. They are all actually high-class talents. They are all different. The challenge for us is going to be to work out the way in which how we will be able to become our Indian talents into the modern sport. Part of the sport is shifting extra against the bodily presence, and that's what now we have to try and re-create in our coaching atmosphere so that they (gamers) are used to it.
You have stressed out upon being constant. India have been struggling to achieve that winning mentality for years now. What do you assume is lacking?
Rather than considering of what is lacking, I generally try to move against what we want to do; and for me, it's in regards to the preparation and the figuring out of the opposition. It must be the same at all times. It does not topic whether or not you are taking part in Russia, Uzbekistan, Australia or Holland, we want to deal with them with utmost respect and in addition want to have the same preparation for every sport, the same across quarters. The fourth quarter we want to play just in addition to we do within the first quarter, as a result of one of the vital things that you can't do is flip off and on like a tap. I feel on occasion that's what happens, other folks get below the influence that you can transfer off and on. No, you can't. You must earn it, paintings exhausting and do all those things that make it difficult.
(Photo Credit: Hockey India)
The temperature all the way through the tournament in Bhubaneswar could also be within the 40s, with very high levels of humidity. Do you consider that's an extra hurdle for the visiting teams and an advantage for India, who are used to scorching conditions?
It's a captivating thing. I do not know in regards to the preparation, for example, Russia and Poland have been doing; however I do know we performed in some tricky conditions all the way through the last 4 months here and now we have been here now for a week and a part. When you talk to our power and conditioning trainer, it takes 10 to 14 days to acclimatize to those conditions. By the time the tournament starts, we might have been here for sufficient time to get to that degree. So to reply to your query, I can't remark at the opposition teams however I do know we can be able the place, expectantly, the weather plays a minimum part.
The Asian Games had a equivalent lopsided box within the group degree, during which India scored a global report 76 targets and registered their biggest ever win of 26-0 in opposition to Hong Kong. But we lost our first actual competitive sport within the semis to Malaysia. Do you consider you'll want to remind the boys about that costly slip of theirs ahead of this tournament?
It's a captivating query. For me, I feel part of the problem with having a look back is that you just tend to have your personal view about what came about. I would like to keep them involved in what we want to do at the day. When you deal with the opposition with respect, you play as exhausting as you can, you attempt to win, then the ranking takes care of itself. You can most effective do that in opposition to an opposition that you're required to play in opposition to. So to reply to your query, I feel the gamers will, after all, have that experience of whatever they performed within the last length (in Asian Games semis) and I am hoping that they learn from that. From my point of view, I'd simply be involved in ensuring (we do) what we want to do at the day.
India want to finish within the most sensible two here and many people are already speaking about a final between India and Asian Games champions Japan. Will you are saying Japan are essentially the most difficult opponent within the tournament?
Here's an excellent example of what I was pronouncing ahead of. I in truth favor now not to discuss those things. That will get you having a look at the consequence, now not the method, as a result of quite a lot of things can occur. You noticed it in (the FIH Series Finals) Malaysia the place you idea this staff will win or that staff, however it does not occur. For me, I play with the playing cards that are in front of me, and we can cross from there.
Poland and South Africa was once very competitive a couple of years back, however India have not performed them a lot within the contemporary past. How do you price these teams?
That for me is the essential part. I price them as high as I possibly can, as a result of the last thing you need to do is be complacent. For anyone like Poland, we performed in opposition to them lately at Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. So the staff is already having a look at those movies and ensuring that we take essentially the most of what we accomplished or didn't reach all the way through that sport.
Finally, are you pleased with the structure of Olympic qualification, particularly making an allowance for that the much-debated FIH ratings will make a decision who India face within the final two-match qualification spherical against the end of this yr?
It's a captivating catch 22 situation, as a result of I feel I have attempted about 15 occasions to work out the different permutations (smiles). It's just about impossible to do that. I was speaking ahead of about things you can control and things you can't control. At the moment, what we will be able to control is how we do in this tournament. From thereon, we can paintings it out. But yes, it's difficult to get your head across so far as the place we could finish up (in ratings). As a ways as I'm involved, what I will be able to control is how we play here. The higher we do all the way through this tournament, the easier likelihood of being high in that 14-team competition, which is the last degree of Olympic qualifiers.
I play with the cards in front of me: Graham Reid
![I play with the cards in front of me: Graham Reid]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
May 29, 2019
Rating:
