New Delhi: The well-oiled sticks of Indian men's hockey team are ready for the Olympic qualifiers. The magic that the world associates with Indian hockey will once again, hopefully, be woven at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here. But that's not possible without the support that the national game yearns for, and coach Michael Nobbs confirms that notion.
"Come out and support us, yell and scream for us. Support Indian hockey and hopefully we will do you proud," said a slightly nervous Michael Nobbs, who admitted to a few butterflies in the stomach.
"The butterflies are with me, but we're really upbeat, positive, ready to start," he said less than a day ahead of India's opening encounter against Singapore.
But whether Indians will throng the 20,000-capacity Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium is a question that will only be answered at 8 p.m. on Saturday, when India play their first match. The denominations of Rs. 300 and Rs. 500 tickets for the league stages are hardly inviting, especially considering the much weaker opposition the men's team will face.
However, a chance to erase the painful memories of missing out on the 2008 Games may drive fans. That nightmare lives even with players like Sardar Singh and Ignace Tirkey, who were part of the team that lost the final of the qualification tournament to Great Britain four years ago. But Nobbs says they are much more determined this time.
"[They are] focussed on making sure it doesn't happen again," Nobbs said. "Just play your game, be positive. Do what you have done in preparation. Go out and give it your best," Nobbs advised his wards, who could feel the pressure playing in front of the home crowd.
Nobbs ruled out a cakewalk for India even though they are hot favourites to grab the solitary spot for the London Games, for which they will be fighting with Canada, France, Poland, Italy and Singapore.
"All the oppositions are here to qualify. It's not a normal tournament. It's not going to be a walk [for India]," Nobbs said.
India play their league matches on Feb 18 (vs Singapore), Feb 19 (vs Italy), Feb 21 (vs France), Feb 22 (vs Canada) and Feb 24 (vs Poland) before the classification matches on Feb 26. All the above games are scheduled for an 8 p.m. start.
Besides the men, the women leg of the tournament - which runs simultaneously - will also have the Indian eves fighting for an Olympic berth.
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