ANTWERP: His side might have already booked their place in next year's Rio Olympics, but India captain Sardar Singh asserted that they are not mere tourists here and have a lot to play for in the ongoing Hockey World League Semifinals.
There is little at stake for the Indian team in the current tournament, despite their assured spots in the 2016 Olympic Games as well as the World League Finals later in the year.
Three spots are available for the World League Finals for which India are automatic qualifiers as hosts, allowing the Sardar-led side the luxury of trying out some young players and new strategies under new chief coach Paul van Ass.
"We are not tourists at this tournament, certainly not," Sardar said when he was asked by world media if the Indian team has anything at stake in this tournament.
India are the only team here to have already secured a passage to Rio Games, allowing them to breathe easy in the competition where some countries are showing nerves aplenty.
"We may have already qualified for the Olympics, but we certainly want to perform well going into the World League Finals that India will host later in the year," said Sardar.
"We want to do well here as much at any other team," he added as the team prepares to go into their second pool fixture, against Poland, who gave Pakistan a tough time in their first outing before losing 1-2.
Poland are ranked 17 in the world, eight spots behind India, but Sardar was fully aware that their opponents have the potential to pull off a surprise on the erratic Indian defence that barely survived a scare against France.
Like France, the Polish also have some speedy strikers who can mount brisk counters, as they displayed against Pakistan, who also paid the price for wasting several scoring opportunities until the match-winner came in the fourth quarter.
"You cannot take any rival likely. The world rankings do not matter when you step into the field," said Sardar, hoping young members of his team would have gained by the experience against France, where newcomer Devinder Walmiki scored an opportunistic goal.
