Asian Champions Trophy: 'It always hurts when you concede a goal,' says India goalkeeper Krishan Pathak

Krishan Pathak

India goalkeeper Krishan Pathak has had a rather unfortunate start to the Asian Champions Trophy here, having conceded all three goals in the team's two matches so far (2-7 v China and 1-1 v Japan).

Team India alternates between its custodians in every match with veteran PR Sreejesh playing the first and third quarters and Pathak playing the second and fourth.

In the opening encounter, China's Wenhui E beat Pathak from close range after which drag flicker Jiesheng Gao made no mistake with a accurately directed shot into the top left corner of the goal. In the Japan match too, Pathak was beaten by a Ken Nagayoshi penalty corner drag flick which sneaked in through the bottom left.

Three goals conceded

"Personally, it's always better to start a tournament well, so from that aspect, it has not been great for me. It's not that I played badly, those things [goals] just happened and could have been avoided. But we have other matches coming up, so I would prefer to focus on that instead of dwelling on the past," Pathak told mid-day during the tournament's rest day on Saturday.

"We played well and created a lot of chances. Had we taken them, things could have been different, but Japan defended well and that's the reason we could not convert so many penalty corners [India converted just one out of 15]," added Pathak.

‘A good learning'

A hockey goalkeeper's role can be a lonely one at the back with all that closed protective gear on, but it also presents a leadership opportunity and that is something Pathak is keen to work on. "It always hurts when you concede a goal, but as a goalkeeper your mistakes are more visible. Sometimes it so happens that you make five-six good saves, but suddenly one ball goes in and everybody has seen only that goal. But I feel as a goalkeeper, you have a better view from the back so you can shape your defence or structure it accordingly with your guidance. That's something I look forward to doing better. The last two matches have been a good learning and it's always good to learn lessons early in a tournament, so that you improve going forward," he signed off.

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