First target is to reach the final: Baskaran
Doha, Nov 27 (UNI) Indian coach Vasudevan Baskaran today said the first target of his team is to make it to the final of the Asian Games hockey competition.
''It is very important for us to make it to the finals because that way we will ensure a berth in the Beijing Olympics,'' the coach said.
Baskaran was candid enough to admit that there were lots of expectations from the team back home and he was hopeful that the boys would do well.
Talking to mediapersons after the team's workout, the coach said, ''The Asian Games are very important for India,'' and added ''We are well prepared and have brought an experienced side.'' The coach said it would be wrong to underestimate any team ''because every team will try to give its best on this platform, it is a huge event and our boys understand that.'' ''We have worked hard with two major camps back home and now our first target here is to reach the final,'' he added.
The first two finishers in the hockey competition here will qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympiad and the rest will have to go through the qualifiers.
''We are taking the Asian Gams very seriously. There is a pressure on the side because Indians back home expect instant results from their sporting teams. When they see an Indian team flying out they expect them to come home with a victory,'' he said.
Skipper Dilip Tirkey also echoed his coach's sentiments and said, ''We will be focusing on good match results and we will be taking it one match at a time.'' Asserting that his side was a very good one, Tirkey said, ''We have a team that works well together and we will be improving as the tournament goes on.'' The skipper said his team is taking Bangladesh very seriously.
''We face Bangladesh in our opening match and then play China and Korea in that order in the league and for us very match is important, no team can be taken lightly.'' Meanwhile, Malaysian coach Tan Wallace also expressed confidence that ''his side will make it to the last four and after that it will depend on many other factors including luck.'' Malaysia, which did not qualify for the World Cup, is now eyeing a berth in the Beijing Olympiad.
''We will try to get a good result. Our first objective is to get into the semi-finals which is tough.'' ''Though we are in a tough pool, along with Pakistan and Japan, but my boys are under no pressure, we know what to expect and we have the right amount of experience,'' he added.
Skipper Kuhan Shanmganathan said, ''We have the best possible 16 and we have trained together for a year.'' ''We are in a tough group but we are confident of making it to the semi-finals,'' he said.
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