Bhaskaran forced to redraw stretegy in Sandeep's absence

Monchengladbach, Germay, Sep 5 (UNI) Drag flick specialist Sandeep Singh's absence might prove to be crucial for India in the 11th World Cup beginning at the Warsteiner Hockey Park here tomorrow.

India were relying heavily on his penalty corner flick to convert goals but a freak accident rendered the Junior World Cup star a non-starter. Coach Bhaskaran had to rework strategy and induct another youngster but inexperienced Raghunath as a replacement.

Though Raghunath scored in the practice match against Japan which India won 3-1, he still lacks big match experience.

It is apparent that Bhaskaran will have to shuffle his team around and rely heavily on the forwards to get the goals.

Inconsistency has been the bane of the team and more so with the forwards and the likes of Gagan Ajit Singh showing little sparkle that made him a special talent in 2002-03.

Now he struggles with his form and it will be important for the team if he can show some flair upfront.

Before he team left India, Bhaskaran said, ''Sandeep's accident is a big blow but the team will emerge stronger.'' Just before the 2003 Asia Cup, Jugraj was involved in an accident and the team took it upon itself to gift him the Asia Cup. Fans back home would probably be happy and that includes Sandeep if India can make it to the last four of the World Cup.

At the last 2002 World Cup India had finished tenth and Bhakaran's efforts will be to put his side back in the contention for a higher standing.

However, if being quiet and non-committal about the teams chances is a show of silent resolve, then coach Bhaskaran and his team have perfected it into a fine art. The team refused to talk to the media, a small group of Indian reporters, who had landed here a couple of days earlier.

Bhaskaran, vocal during the training session as he shouted instructions at his boys, flatly refused to speak about the team or Sandeep Singh's replacement Raghunath.

''Not now,'' said Bhaskaran, ''I will speak at the press conference after India's game.'' On the other hand, German coach was more forth coming.

Bernhard Peters, in his press conference, said that he expected a tough game from the Indians in the opening match.

''We play very close matches with them,'' he said. ''I hope we could start on a winning note. But for that we have to play very well. I never take India lightly.'' The Indian training session itself was energetic. Tushar Khandekar, Gagan Ajit Singh, Tejbir and the rest of the forwards were enjoying their time out in the middle of the main pitch where everything seemed to be gleaming with that 'shiny new look'.

Both the coaches spent a lot of time with the forwards. The word around here at the World Cup is that with Sandeep Singh back in India, most of the teams are willing to play a little rough with the Indian forwards.

Even if that results in a few extra penalty corners, they know that India's best bet at scoring them hasn't caught the flight to Monchengladbach.

That is the surprise that probably Bhaskaran wants to bank on.

Raghunath or even Arjun Halappa might fill in to be that surprise weapon. In training sessions, Halappa has been seen practicing the penalty corner flick.

For a man of his size, to swing the stick into that perfect arc and beat the defence seems almost like an impossibility. But before the team left India, assistant coach Harendra Singh had given a clue that Halappa had a natural ability to flick in powerfully.

Maybe, in the match against Germany, we would see Halappa coming on for the penalty corners.

With a re-worked strategy in place only a week before the World Cup, any team in this 12-team World Cup would have a problem adjusting. But though the team would have loved to have him, Sandeep's absence might just make the likes of Raghunath and Halappa the unknown ones for the various coaches in India's Pool.

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