Make-or-break time in hockey for fallen giants Pakistan, India

NEW DELHI—Former masters India and Pakistan face a stiff test to restore the balance of power at the Asian Games as South Korea consolidates its field hockey supremacy in the region.
The Korean men are favourites to retain the gold medal they won in Busan four years ago that triggered a spectacular slide by the sub-continental giants. India and Pakistan go to Doha knowing they must reverse their flagging fortunes to keep the sport alive in their cricket-mad nations or face an uncertain future at the international level.
Seven-time champions Pakistan failed to win an Asian Games medal for the first time since hockey was introduced at the 1958 Tokyo Games when they came in fourth at Busan. Pakistan, who finished sixth at the World Cup in Germany in September, have not won a major title since the Shahbaz Ahmed-inspired triumph at the World Cup in Sydney in 1994.
India’s eight Olympic gold medals are all but forgotten in the wake of crushing setbacks at the international level - the 1998 Asian Games title being an exception to the otherwise dismal scenario. India finished 11th out of 12 at this year’s World Cup prompting disgusted coach Vasudevan Bhaskaran to plead for a psychologist to help his players out of their defeatist mindset.
“Are our best playing their best? I doubt it,” said Bhaskaran, who was captain when India won the last of its Olympic gold medals at the western-boycotted Moscow Games in 1980. “The freshers seem to understand and improved match after match, but the stars let the team down. It seems the remedy lies in the mind.”
Not surprisingly, both India and Pakistan have left out senior players from the Doha-bound squads in a bid to make a fresh start. India dropped seasoned striker Gagan Ajit Singh and midfielders Vikram Pillay and Ignace Tirkey, while drag-flickers Sandeep Singh and Jugraj Singh are still recovering from injuries.
Pakistan sacked five seniors, including captain Mohammad Saqlain and penalty-corner expert Sohail Abbas, after they skipped a training camp to honour their lucrative contracts with foreign clubs. Striker Rehan Butt, who was named the captain, dismissed fears that the absence of veteran players will weaken Pakistan. “We will not miss the senior players because this team is capable of reaching the final,” said Butt, adding that South Korea would be their toughest opponents.
At Busan, Pakistan lost to India in the semi-finals and were beaten by Malaysia in the play-off for the bronze medal. If India do not make the semi-finals, Bhaskaran’s head will be the first on the chopping block. Indian officials have begun talks with German Paul Lissek to take over after the Asiad if Bhaskaran fails to deliver. India are drawn with South Korea, China, Bangladesh and Oman in group B from where two teams will qualify for the semi-finals. Group A has Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan, Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei.—Agencies