WC hockey predictions dominate SJAM meet

Former India hockey players Adrian D’Souza (left), MM Somaya and Edgar Mascarenhas Sr (right) during a World Cup build-up event organised by the Sports Journalists’ Association of Mumbai (SJAM) at Don Bosco High School, Matunga, yesterday. Pic/Atul Kamble

High on their historic Olympic bronze medal win at the Tokyo Games last year, Harmanpreet Singh's Team India can carry the momentum into the World Cup that begins in Odisha on Friday (January 13 to 29) and emerge champions, insists two-time World Cupper (Monchegladbach 2006 and New Delhi 2010) - goalkeeper Adrian D'Souza.

"If we can excel in the penalty corner department through captain and star drag-flicker Harmanpreet [Singh] and defend the goal well with my good friend Sreejesh under the bar, I have no doubt that we can go all the way in the tournament," D'Souza said at a hockey seminar organised by the Sports Journalists' Association of Mumbai (SJAM) at Don Bosco, Matunga, on Wednesday.

1980 Moscow Olympics gold medal-winning team member MM Somaya felt the Indian team will deservingly finish on the podium on January 29, though the colour of the medal may not necessarily be gold.

"At this World Cup, there are two teams, who have a very good mix of youth and experience, and that's India and Australia. I believe this team can finish among the medals," said Somaya, also a two-time World Cupper (Mumbai 1982 and London 1986). 1990 World Cupper Edgar Mascarenhas Sr tipped India to finish among the top four. "Fitness is a crucial aspect in modern hockey and the reason India did well to finish with a medal at Tokyo is because of this team's fitness. The players are recovering well and ready for the next challenge in quick time and this will help them succeed at an event like the World Cup, where you have to perform consistently," said Mascarenhas.

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India goalkeeper Suraj Karkera and Dronacharya award-winning coach Marzban ‘Bawa' Patel were part of the audience that also comprised a keen bunch of hockey players from the Don Bosco Academy, which is the brainchild of the school's principal Fr Crispino D'Souza. Everyone listened in rapt attention as Somaya, Edgar and Adrian first shared their unique World Cup experiences and later happily took questions, making it an evening well spent with hockey aficionados.