A year before Rio, India search for silver lining in the clouds

The mountains form the backdrop for the Indian hockey team’s training camp at Shilaroo, Himachal Pradesh.

Roelant Oltmans stands on the centre of the turf and soaks in the beauty of the picturesque surrounds. He has been here a week, but the cloud-covered mountains and deep, green valleys over which the hockey turf hangs would perhaps have been the last things on his mind as another foreign coach — third during his term — left Indian shores in disgust.

This, however, is the Dutchman’s first training session since being officially appointed the chief coach of the men’s team over the weekend. Oltmans shifts his gaze towards the players, who form a semicircle around him. They had been expecting another Dutchman to address them. But after going on a leave following the World League semifinals in Belgium earlier this month, Paul van Ass never returned.

The only positive to emerge after the fortnight-long drama has been the appointment of Oltmans as chief coach. But even as that was finalised by a special Hockey India committee last Friday, the team was dealt with twin blows — assistant coach Jude Felix’s sudden resignation and the disciplinary action taken against one of the mainstays, Gurbaj Singh, for creating ‘factions’ within the team.

You would expect the aftershocks to be felt at the camp in Shilaroo as well. But it’s surprisingly calm. Camping in a tiny Himachal hamlet, eight thousand feet above sea level, the Van Ass saga and its repercussions have not been felt by the team. Yet. The seniors in the team have taken it upon themselves to ensure that the ‘positivity’ and ‘optimism’ within the team isn’t affected.

The players go about their business as if nothing has changed. Perhaps, for them, nothing has. They just seem to be relieved that they are being spared of the initiation period with another coach. A new coach would have meant new strategy and another set of wholesale changes to the way the team functions.

The constant chopping and changing of coaches has frustrated the players, even though almost each one of them is parroting what seems to be a well-rehearsed line. “We get to learn something new from every coach. So it’s not that bad,” they all say. But Oltmans’ presence seems to be reassuring. “365 days,” Oltmans tells his players. “365 days is what we have. Let’s not waste a single day now. Let’s give everything that we have. Acha karna hai,” he adds, smiling wryly and checking with his assistants if he got his Hindi right.

India was the first country to clinch the Olympic quota by winning the Asian Games gold last year. Qualifying two years before the Games was seen as a big boost in terms of preparation but the sacking of two coaches since has left many wondering if the advantage is lost.

“I don’t think so. We still have one year with us and that is a good enough time to plan and execute our strategies. I don’t think we have lost a year,” Oltmans says.

Twice before Oltmans has been in charge of the team, but on both occasions it was on an interim basis. At the Asia Cup in 2013, not long after Michael Nobbs parted ways, India lost to South Korea in the final after conceding a last-minute goal.

A year later, Oltmans managed the dugout once again at the Champions Trophy after Terry Walsh was shown the door having guided India to one of its most successful years in recent times.

The players know what to expect from him and vice versa. Since his appointment three years ago, Oltmans has travelled extensively with the junior and senior teams. He is aware of the deficiencies of the individuals as well as the group. On his first day in charge officially, he is working on defensive combinations and midfield dynamics. Oltmans barks out instructions in English as his assistant Tushar Khandker does the quick translation.

One of the biggest grouses against Van Ass was that he left the players ‘confused’ with his strategies. But here the players are quick to understand what the coach wants. Oltmans, too, looks content with what he sees. “It’s sad that Paul left. But this might be a blessing in disguise. Roelant is a solid coach and he understands us very well. We haven’t lost the advantage. If we work hard for the next one year, we can still do well in Rio,” Sardar says.

As the mist that hangs in the valley gradually withers away and the clouds that cover the mountains disperse, Oltmans steals a second to admire the nature once again. He perhaps would also be hoping that the perpetual mist that has enveloped Indian hockey too lifts soon.