#ignace tirkey

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You haven't seen the real Indian team yet, says Nobbs after loss

You haven't seen the real Indian team yet, says Nobbs after loss

Reet Oberoi

Down 0-2, the Indian mens hockey team showed great courage to make it 2-2 against the Dutch in their Olympic Games opening encounter at the Riverbank Arena in London, before going down 2-3.

Coach Michael Nobbs said his players were "overwhelmed" by the situation and "could not play their natural game in the opening game".

"This is not how we play," he told this website after the loss. "We were perhaps overawed in the first half, and then came out attacking in the second one. If India would have played how they normally do, things would have been different.

"This is the Olympics, with the top 12 teams in the world competing for a gold. Nothing is going to be easy.

"We managed to give a good fight in the second half, and the aim ahead is to be consistent." Seasoned midfielder Ignace Tirkey said "lack of experience" pegged back the team, many of whom were taking part in their first Olympic Games.

"We lack experience and were also found wanting in the defence. Today's game was a good lesson for what not to do ahead. The better we re-group, the better for the team."

Dutch impressed

Holland coach Paul Van Ass said he "never expected India to make it 2-2", showering high praise on his opponents.

"It wasn't easy. They came back strongly and we just about managed to mend our ways. We are happy with the three points," the coach said.

[indianhockey-blog]

ibnlive: India beat South Africa amid a goal fest

Santander, Spain: South Africa launched a massive second-half comeback against India in the first hockey Test here on Sunday but fell a goal short of escaping with a draw, allowing the Indians to beat them 6-5 in the end.

India led 3-1 at the half-time whistle and scored three more in the last 35 minutes, but a spirited South Africa turned the match into a nail-biter by finding the target four times in the second half.

The South Africans had once brought the scores level to 1-1 when India skipper and goalkeeper Bharat Chetri was yellow-carded for a dangerous challenge on Marvin Harper. Lloyd Madsen converted the resultant penalty corner by beating the Indian defender Ignace Tirkey who was in the goal post while Chetri was suspended for 10 minutes.

The second half saw a determined South Africa on the pitch, but India nullified their intent by scoring again one minute into the half, and then by making it 5-1 through a controversial goal. The South African goalkeeper appealed that the final Indian shot into the goal came off a back-stick, but the umpires went by their initial decision to award the goal to India.

The flood gates seemed to have opened for South Africa at 5-1, but a superb fightback saw them score four times, though not before India had scored one more goal that proved to be decisive in the end.

Shivendra Singh (13th and 38th minute), Dharamvir Singh (19th and 21st minute), Tushar Khandker (36th minute) and VR Raghunath (53rd minute) were on target for India.

The goal-scorers for South Africa were Austin Smith (17th and 69th minute), Tim Drummond (42nd minute), Ian Haley (48th minute) and Justin Ried Ross (67th minute).

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Times of India: All eyes now on Chandi and Tirkey

All eyes now on Chandi and Tirkey

BANGALORE: Gurvinder Singh Chandi and Ignace Tirkey will be keenly watched as chief coach Michael Nobbs and the Hockey India selectors get to pick the 16 for the London Olympics in July.

The two-day trials in Pune, beginning on Wednesday, may provide the answers to the team's woes in the defence and attack with Tirkey and Chandi being touted as the links who can shore up the team during moments of crisis.

During last week's Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, Nobbs even went on record saying that the absence of the two players had blunted the team at critical points of time.

While Chandi had missed the tournament with a hamstring injury sustained during the London Olympic Test event early this year, Tirkey had been rested so as to keep him fresh and ready for the Olympics.

Two other players whose performances will come under the scanner are defender and drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh and forward Yuvraj Walmiki. Rupinder has hit a low in terms of form, according to Nobbs, and Walmiki, who returned to the squad for the Azlan Shah after a long injury-forced layoff, wasn't up to scratch in Ipoh. It may be a herculean task for these two players to retain their places in the team, what with Dharamvir Singh and Chinglensana Singh too in the fray.

The selectors may choose 22 players for the European tour, which begins with a short stay at Lille, France (June 28-July 1) where the team is expected to train and play a few matches with the French team. It then moves to Santander for a stint on blue turf and a friendly four-nation series before heading to London.

The trials, spread over three sessions, will see 48 players in action. It will comprise a good number of juniors, according to Nobbs. "We will be picking the team on form. But at the same time, we wouldn't want the seniors to take their positions for granted. The juniors will push them into performing better. Having said that, we wouldn't be picking junior players as they haven't had enough time with us or have had the necessary biomechanics or training that the seniors have had over the last nine months," Nobbs said.

With the squad size being restricted to 16 for the Olympics, Hockey India will choose two other players who will accompany the team to London. "The only replacements from now on will be due to an unforeseen injury. We will be taking extra players to Spain and London just in case of injury. They will train with the team but stay elsewhere in London as they will not be permitted any access to the Olympic Village.

As per Olympic rules a player can be replaced due to injury 24 hours prior to the event taking place," Nobbs said. The Australian was non-committal on picking one goalkeeper to allow an extra field player in the 16-member squad. "No decision on that yet. We will have to see how the players shape up."

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The Hindu: Real work starts now

Real work starts now Special Correspondent

M.M. Somaya, men's team Technical Director at 2008 Olympic qualifier in Santiago (Chile), feels that India under Michael Nobbs is learning to counter-attack. “The transition from defence to attack is happening swiftly and without mispasses. Nobbs had mentioned after taking over that this aspect will get his attention. It is happening.”

Ignace Tirkey's switch from a midfield role into the defence also earns praise from the 1988 Seoul Olympics men's captain. “Nobbs made a smart move in convincing Tirkey to move into the defence. He and Sardar Singh are good on the ball, so create a marking problem for the rivals each time they go on the attack.”

Drag-flicker Sandeep Singh made a huge contribution in India's qualification, with five penalty corner conversions in the final against France. Somaya as TD and Joaquim Carvalho as chief coach were in charge when India had missed Olympic qualification four years ago at Santiago, beaten by Great Britain in the decider. Asked about the difference between Chile and New Delhi, the latter said: “In Santiago we played away and now enjoyed familiar conditions and was backed by home fans.”

The Olympian and former head coach is of the view that the real work for the Indian men's hockey team starts now. “I'm taking nothing away from the efforts of our players, but performing against Holland, Germany, Spain, Australia is different from the opposition we faced in the qualifiers. Our team needs to move up to the next level, it is for Nobbs to decide how he is going to do it.”

Special Correspondent from Chennai reports:

Legends, Ric Charlesworth of Australia and the Ties Kruzie of the Netherlands, have hailed India's victory in the Olympic qualifier in New Delhi on Sunday. In an e-mail response to The Hindu, Ric Charlesworth, whose admiration and love for Indian hockey is well known, said “ I am delighted for the Indian players, many of whom I know well. It is deserved and timely and good for the game to have them in London. I am not surprised, as before the competition I said I expected to prevail against those teams.”

Ties Kruize noted, “In my eyes, India is a fantastic country, one of the best I have ever been to and traditionally also one of the great hockey nations. Only for that it is a great that they qualified for the OG although still they have to go a long way to be able to compete in the top of world hockey. The most important thing is that the people in India have patience and will allow the staff of the team to work in quietness and give them time.”

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Ignace Tirkey's wallpapers

Ignace Tirkey's wallpapers

http://www.stick2hockey.com/ViewStaticPage.aspx?StaticPage=Indian_men_Hockey_wallpapers.html

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Times of India: Ticket to London Games important for hockey's survival: Ignace Tirkey

Ticket to London Games important for hockey's survival: Ignace Tirkey

NEW DELHI: The pain of not qualifying for 2008 Beijing Olympics still rattles him and senior mid-fielder Ignace Tirkey said it is important that India earns a place in this year's London Games for the survival of hockey in the country.

A member of the Indian team which went down to Great Britain 0-2 in the final of the Olympic qualifiers in Santiago four years ago, Ignace feels hockey might die in the cricket-crazy nation if this time India doesn't qualify for the quadrennial event.

"It was the darkest hour for us to see India lose at Santiago. We felt we should leave hockey then and there. We don't want to see that day again. I don't know what had happened to us, why we couldn't play that day," Ignace said.

"Qualifying for the Games this year is very important for the survival of hockey, for its future. I am confident we will do it this time. We have self belief. We will give our everything.

"Once we qualify, it would give hockey a new lease of life and many young players will take up the game in future," he added.

The former skipper said the eight-time Olympic champions cannot afford to take any team lightly in the Olympic qualifiers to be held here from February 18-26.

"There are no easy wins in sports and no team is weak. There are many teams such as France whom we have never played. We don't know how they play. Of course, Canada is the strongest team but we will take match by match," he said.

India will play Canada, France, Singapore, Poland and Italy in the qualifying tournament for a solitary spot for the London Games.

Ignace said the hosts will look to play attacking hockey in the qualifiers.

"The aggressive approach is good for India but we have to put more effort and mid-fielders and defence have to support the forwards. We have to take the opponent strikers at one side of the field and give time for our forwards to join the defence," he said