'Can’t rely only on penalty corners for goals': BP Govinda

Former India forward BP Govinda at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium in Chennai. Pic/Ashwin Ferro

Former India forward, BP Govinda, 72, was known for his speed and bravado inside the striking circle that saw him score numerous goals for the country in the early 1970s. So, it's only understandable that he expects more from the Indian team's forwardline which has not quite delivered in the first two matches of the Asian Champions Trophy here.

World No. 4 India beat China 7-2 in their opener and drew 1-1 with Japan, but only one goal from those eight was a field goal, while the rest originated from penalty corners. And Govinda, who is also a member of Hockey India's selection committee, felt that there should not be such an over-reliance on short corners.

"The Indian forwards cannot rely only on penalty corners for goals. Our forwards have to score more field goals," Govinda told mid-day just before the start of the India v Malaysia encounter at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium on Sunday.

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Recalling his playing days, Govinda, a member of India's 1975 World Cup-winning team, illustrated how forwards like him in the days gone by didn't think twice before throwing their bodies on the line to score. "Once, during a domestic match [in the Nehru Cup while representing Indian Airlines against Punjab Police at the Shivaji Stadium in Delhi] I dived into the goal [to meet a cross from the legendary Dhyan Chand's son Ashok Kumar]. My stick met the ball, but the momentum took me straight ahead and I slammed into the goal head on. The goal post broke and my head started bleeding, but the goal had been scored and we won the match 1-0. That should be the commitment for scoring goals by a forward," added Govinda, who is also the chairman of the tournament's Appeals Committee here.