Carvalho eyes on gold in Beijing

Tiruchirapalli, Dec 7: Winning gold at Beijing Olympics is the ultimate dream for Indian Hockey team chief coach Joaquim Carvalho.

In an informal chat with mediapersons here on Thursday, Carvalho said the aim is to win the gold at the 2008 Olympic Games and the immediate mission is to ensure the team's qualification for the huge event.

But he is not the one to take things lightly. ''We are not underestimating any team. We are going to take it match by match. The team is determined to give its best at the tournament.

''The victory at the Asia Cup is a big morale booster for the players and the way the team played throughout the tournament is indeed commendable,'' Carvalho said.

Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) Secretary General K Jothikumaran also sounded optimistic on the team's chances at the world event. ''I feel chances are very bright for us at the Beijing Olympics.

The three-nation tournament, which India will compete along with Pakistan and Belgium, in January at Chennai and the series in Australia in February will provide the players confidence and match practice ahead of the qualifying rounds for Olympic Games at Chile in March,'' he said.

To a question, he said the victory at the Asia Cup had given the Indian Team the much needed recognition.

UNI