Friday 19 / April / 2024
Muscat: With the 2016 His Majesty's Cup Hockey Championship title race heating up, defending champions Ahli-Sidab Club have sprung a surprise by boosting their ranks to the optimum.
To be seen in action at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher on Thursday evening will be none other than the latest star of the hockey arena and India's best drag flicker Rupinder Pal Singh.
Very recently he was seen being adjudged the player of the tournament, where India won the Asian Champions Trophy in Kuantan and he was also seen at his best in India's recent tour of Australia.
For Ahli-Sidab, coached by K.K. Poonacha, their tall ambition to defend the title in style will now have a 6 foot 4 inch giant in Rupinder to propel their cause.
"This is indeed for the first time I am in Oman and I promise to provide my best to help the team extend the reign as champions," said Rupinder during a casual chat with Times Sport soon after arriving in Muscat.
For Rupinder, who is based in Chennai working and playing for Indian Overseas Bank, playing in Oman will be a new experience.
"I am looking forward for the first match tomorrow (Thursday) and hope to make a first good impression," he said.
Ahli-Sidab, having topped the first round, is looking for a winning start in the crucial round ahead of the knockout phase and they will be facing the lucky and plucky Salalah Club, who clinched the sixth spot after a play-off on Tuesday.
Born in Punjab's Faridkot, this unassuming Indian star, is confident of gelling with his teammates and also is curious of knowing about the opponent teams, who this season have improved drastically with enforcements of young and experienced professionals from Pakistan.
For a man who towered over others in dual wins over Pakistan in the Asian Champions Trophy, he opined to take every match seriously.
"It doesn't matter who I play against or where or for whom, I stick to the plans and strategies of the team and do my best to score," said Rupinder, who also was the top-notch purchase for the HIL franchise Delhi Waveriders.
Referring to the emotions while playing against Pakistan, he said there are no special thoughts or feelings.
"Every match is played on its merit and every team wants to win. On the pitch, whoever the opponents are, we go all out for a win," the Indian, who too faced times when his short corner conversion failed to find the mark, said.
"That happens and I have been working hard since then and also have gone in for some innovations, which are bearing fruits," he pointed out.
While in Oman he expressed his desire to speak to the upcoming national players and highlight on the ethics of the game.
"My little experience has given me a good knowledge. Being united and understanding each other brings the best out of a team and that is what is happening with the Indian team now," he explained, praising chief coach Roelant Oltmans, who he credited for the transformation.
"There are still some gaps, which was evident in our recent matches in Australia. We need to plug those as 2018 World Cup is our next big target," he said, who also mentioned certain lack of experience to be the reason.
He also expressed hope on the Indian juniors to deliver the goods in the Junior World Cup beginning on Thursday.
"They have the capabilities to upset any team," said Rupinder, whose international debut was during the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in 2010.
Rupinder having been a standout player for whichever team he played for, is now Poonacha's trump card in his and Ahli-Sidab's quest to defend the His Majesty's Cup.
However, Poonach is wary of all the teams this season.
"No match is easy this time and each and every team is playing great hockey," said Poonacha.
"The Pakistani players — Mushtaq, Adnan and Irfan — playing for Salalah Club are very good upfront," said Poonacha after having a first glimpse of them in action on Tuesday.
Pradhan Somanna, who is another Ahli-Sidab recruit, too vouched for his coach's opinion.
"No team is an easy prey this time. We must work hard to finish on top," said Pradhan. "Performance on the day is vital."
Poonacha also said teams from south like Al Nasr and Dhofar too have become stronger outfits.
"Mentally we are highly motivated and there are no injury worries," said Poonacha, who later took off to the Bausher stadium with Rupinder and Pradhan for a practice session.
