Indian men's hockey team book 2012 London Olympics berth

On a day when their favourite cricketers let them down in the tour Down Under, Indian hockey stars turned it into a Super Sunday for the fans after winning the final of the FIH Olympic qualifier.

Goal machine Sandeep Singh netted five and completed the second hat-trick of the tournament in the process to give India a perfect evening and a ticket to 2012 London Olympics. Tactical accuracy and the lightning pace displayed by Michael Nobbs men undone a sorry France. The scoreline of 8-1 in favour of the hosts said it all.

India attacked from the word go but were deprived of space as the French fullbacks defended stoically. Their frustrations were furthered when French custodian Matthies denied a sure shot goal in the 15th minute. But two minutes thereafter India scored the decisive goal. A cross from Manpreet found a taker in the form of Birendra Lakra in the French goalmouth who fired it in swiftly with a reverse flick. The atmosphere was electric.

Vociferously cheered by the crowd, Indians went searching for another goal. Sandeep stepped in to increase the lead in the 19th minute. It was Sandeep’s 12th goal in the event, a figure he had set as his target. He scored four more and was adjudged Player of the Match.

India’s pace and their crowd’s loud cheer troubled French players but silenced them for once when Simon Martin-Brisac deflected off Sebastian in the 23rd minute. Sreejesh, who came in place of Bharat Chetri, looked stunned. India retaliated in the 26th minute, a typical Sandeep converted a short corner to up the ante for the hosts while France caved in.

After leading by three goals to one at the end of first half, the men in ‘white’ made it 4-1 in the 38th minute through Sandeep. The referee had a field day as the final saw tension flare between the two sides and a number of referrals, most of which benefitted India. India’s penalty conversion rate was near perfect on Sunday as six out of eight goals came through penalty corners. On sparse occasions they were tested, Indian defense held fort tenaciously.

Apart from Lakra, Raghunath and SV Sunil got themselves into the score sheet, which was monopolized by Sandeep.

India's quest for Olympic berth begins today

Past masters of the game, India could not have asked for a weaker oposition than Singapore to kick start their hockey Olympic Qualifiers campaign here on today as they look to avoid the ignominy of missing out on a berth for the quadrennial event for the second successive time.

India, with a record eight Olympic men`s titles, suffered a setback four years ago when they failed to make it to the 2008 Beijing Games for the first time in 80 years.

But come this time around, a favourable draw and familiar conditions have made the 10th-ranked Indians a strong favourite for the lone ticket to London, which is up for grabs from the six-team competition, comprising Canada (14th), France (18th), Poland (19th), Italy (28th) and Singapore (41st).

The upcoming qualification tournament is also the first big test for India`s Australian coach Michael Nobbs, who has done a commedable job with the Indians in terms of fitness and performances since joining the team last year.

Because of his low-profile and the attacking style of hockey he preaches, Nobbs struck a chord with his wards from the word go and instilled belief in the players as well followers that India can regain its lost glory again.

There is a blend of experience and freshness in the 18-member Indian squad which Nobbs has handpicked for the qualifiers.

In ace drag-flicker Sandeep Singh, veteran Ignace Tirkey, Shivendra Singh, Tushar Khandekar and captain Bharat Chetri, the Indian team boasts of ample experience. In fact, Sandeep and Ignace are the only two players in the current team who have played in an Olympics (2004 Athens) before.

Another youngster, S V Sunil, who has replaced former captain Rajpal Singh in the team, has been a revelation in the right flank, while as always Sardar Singh is the king of India`s mid-field.

The availability of three drag-flickers in Sandeep, V R Raghunath and Rupinder Pal Singh, also give the Indians a rare upperhand over their opponents in the tournament.

It should be relatively easy outings for the Indians in the first two games against Singapore and Italy, who are way behind the Asian giants in international hockey.

Singapore, which has replaced the United States` barely three weeks before the event, is a young team and comprises university students with little experience of playing international hockey, a reason why the column of international caps in their team sheet is blank.

"The matches against Singapore and Italy will be our practice matches," India skipper Chetri had said when asked whether lack of practice matches would be an impediment for his team ahead of the tournament.

Having already played in these conditions twice before, Canada (14) is expected to give India a tough fight in the competiton, while France and Poland could create some surprises.

India coach Nobbs, however, refused to take any team lightly and warned his wards against complacency.

"Every match is crucial for us. So, we will play all the matches with same intensity," he had said.