With just 39 seconds to go to wrap up the third quarter, Vandana Katariya lingered on the left of the goalmouth. She would swoop onto a well-directed deflection throwing herself into a pouncing equaliser and China would be neutralised 1-1, in the pool game of the Women’s Hockey World Pro League in the Netherlands. “At last the Indian corner comes good,” the commentator would exhale of the last of 5 penalty corner chances India earned. Experts would reminisce about India’s Dutch coach Janneke Schopman scoring off similar variations in her time as a player. But there was a nervous resignation to the relief of the eventual 1-1 draw.
On either side of the China game, India earned a staggering total of 31 PC chances. They converted 3. Coach Schopman’s stint was witnessing India move two steps forward, one step back. Plenty of chances to score off, but a miserly few converted.
Chasing New Zealand’s lead in a later match, and after Katariya and Lalremsiami had notched a pair of impressive field goals, India’s designated drag-flicker Gurjit Kaur flicked one to the low right corner, the ball sidling past two pairs of defenders feet and an outstretched leg of the Kiwi goalkeeper. The goal had the skill of threading a needle, but couldn’t mask the low conversion rate of the match: 1 out of 15.
Against Spain, Indian PC takers lacked in intensity, failing to convert any of the 4 chances. And when England held India to another draw – after yet another Katariya poaching on a rebound – some tame injections as the game wore on, saw the opponent rushers earn that extra split second to get into position to parry the slapped shots. The English game saw a conversion of 1 off 7 PC attempts.
Against Spain, Indian PC takers lacked in intensity, failing to convert any of the 4 chances. And when England held India to another draw – after yet another Katariya poaching on a rebound – some tame injections as the game wore on, saw the opponent rushers earn that extra split second to get into position to parry the slapped shots. The English game saw a conversion of 1 off 7 PC attempts.
Lots of work left
The next season of the FIH Pro League will not see India having failed to stay in the ranking bracket, and that would mean fewer top-level matches. That implies lesser opportunities to test their PC progress, even if backroom work on the dragflicks will continue no doubt. The CWG might well be one of the last testing assignments for a long time.
There’s not many drag-flickers immediately visible coming through the junior ranks. And India’s forwards aren’t exactly setting the blue turf on fire, lacking a bit in composure in the crunch and closer to the goal. Katariya is on a roll currently and Lalremsiami has the poaching chops. But mere field goals aren’t going to chip away at leads of opponents.
Matters are compounded with the continuing absence of Rani Rampal, India’s creative force for the last decade who could create chances out of thin air and set it up for her teammates. India will need to make the important calls on whether Rani – even if in short bursts of 30 minutes – can be employed to conjure those chances.
The PC conversion alongside remains good and bad news. Many chances, fewer dancing to the goal.
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