NEW DELHI: The calm and composed leadership of Harmanpreet Singh played a pivotal role in the Indian men's hockey team's successful campaign at the Hangzhou Asian Games, according to former Indian hockey star Dhanraj Pillay. He likened Harmanpreet's leadership style to that of "Captain Cool" MS Dhoni. Dhanraj, who led India to victory in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games, emphasized that Harmanpreet's ability to remain calm under pressure was a key factor in India's gold-winning effort.
"To a large extent, the credit for the victory goes to Harmanpreet's captaincy. He is the Mahendra Singh Dhoni of Indian hockey. He keeps guiding the team from behind, does not allow emotions to overpower him, and remains calm under pressure," said Dhanraj.
India secured a dominant 5-1 victory over defending champion Japan in the final, earning them the gold medal and a direct qualification spot for the Paris Olympics.
"This victory will be written in history. It is a historical gold. The boys played together and scored so many goals. I am happy that we completely dominated and played better than them in all four quarters. It is not easy to win 5-1 in a final," Dhanraj added.
Dhanraj also credited senior Indian players like PR Sreejesh, Manpreet Singh, Lalit Upadhyay, and Amit Rohidas for fostering unity and coordination within the team, reminiscent of the successful 1998 squad.
Reflecting on India's victory over Japan, Dhanraj reminisced about India's win in the 1998 Asian Games, where he had scored India's equalizer. He highlighted the strong team that India had during that period.
Dhanraj expressed his emotions, saying, "When the Indian team stood on the podium (at Hangzhou) wearing a gold medal, I went back 25 years. After winning the medal (at Bangkok), I was crying holding Subaiya and Ballal in my hands."
He also expressed relief at India's qualification for the Paris Olympics, emphasizing the need for extensive preparation as they will be facing strong teams like Australia, Netherlands, and Germany.
Dhanraj acknowledged the pressure on the team to aim for a higher medal color in Paris, given their bronze medal win at the Tokyo Olympics. He encouraged the team to focus on the game, ignore outside distractions, and prioritize injury prevention.
In conclusion, Dhanraj Pillay's insights highlighted the significance of Harmanpreet Singh's leadership and the team's unity in achieving success at the Hangzhou Asian Games and qualifying for the Paris Olympics.
(With PTI inputs)
