For IHF, it still isn't the end of the road

Doha, Dec 11 (UNI) Indian hockey never ceases to surpise. Everytime experts forebode it to fare bad, it comes up with worse and yet, an ever-optimist IHF could see some light at the end of the tunnel.

After having failed to make it into the semi-final for the first time in Asian Games, IHF secretary K Jyothikumaran assured there was no need to worry and was quick to point out the positives from the tournament.

''No doubt, it (the early ouster) is most unexpected,'' Jyothikumaran told UNI here today.

''But you have to agree that barring the first half in the match against China, our display was very good.

''None expected us to play so well against Korea and, admittedly, so bad against China. But it is not the end of the road,'' he said.

That India had to go through the ignominy of playing in the qualifiers for the Beijing Olympic berth hardly is a cause of concern for the federation.

''We will assess the situation. But you must not forget that even the top football teams sometimes fail to qualify for the FIFA World Cup,'' he said.

Mr Jyothikumaran refused to say anything on the fate of the coach, V Bhaskaran, for whom it was the second successive failure after the team's last but one finish at World Cup in Germany.

''I don't think there's any point in blaming the coach. We're looking into the matter,'' he said. However, it seems unlikely that the coach will be spared as federation president K P S Gill had repeatedly said that Bhaskaran's fate depended on India's show in the Games.

Meanwhile, a pall of gloom hung over Indian contingents and fans, who came to cheer the team from as far as Kenya and England, mourned the 'death' of Indian hockey.

''We are deeply disappointed. The Indian hockey was buried under the Arabian sands yesterday,'' said hockey buff Virender Singh who came all the way from Mombasa to root for the team.

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