MUMBAI: “Before 18 December (2016) they were boys. Now they are men,” said Harendra Singh, beaming like a proud father. The coach guided India to a junior World Cup title in December and believes it has given the boys confidence to go shoulder-to-shoulder with the big boys in the high-profile Hockey India League, which commences in Mumbai on Saturday.
Hosts Dabang Mumbai will take on defending champions Ranchi Rays, coached by Harendra, in the opening match. All eyes will be on the juniors, five in Mumbai’s squad and four playing for Ranchi.
“They are coming in as world champions. So they will be eager to prove themselves and do better with every step,” added Harendra. All 25 players from the junior team will be in action in the fifth edition of HIL. “It is great to have five players from the junior World Cup playing with us,” said Jay Stacy, who was retained as head coach by the Mumbai franchise.
“Last year, we deliberately gave some pitch time to the five boys in HIL. Since then, they have improved and are exposed to a higher level of hockey, some international games and lots of training. I think they are going to impact games this time. I am pleased with their confidence, physical conditioning and form.”
The HIL, most recent in the line of hockey leagues in India, has a symbiotic relationship with Indian hockey. While this edition is hoping for the country’s young stars to shine bright, the event has gone some way in acclimatising players to the harsh world of international hockey. “When I first played in HIL, in 2015, it was difficult to keep pace with the international stars,” says Harmanpreet Singh, the India drag-flicker who has struck a happy note despite Mumbai’s below-par performances in the League so far.
“The HIL not only gave a platform and exposure, but we got to see up close how top players train. Earlier, my long balls lacked direction, but the experienced players in the team worked with me and helped me with my approach.”
The HIL stints have already given them exposure and big-match experience. Now the players are hoping to use it as a stepping stone and make a smoother transition into the senior squad. After the Rio Olympics, senior India coach Roelant Oltmans had said that performances in the junior World Cup and HIL will be taken into consideration to form a new core group for the 2020 Olympics.
deepti@newindianexpress.com