New Delhi: A total of 128 goals have been scored in 24 matches till now in the inaugural Bridgestone World Series Hockey. It’s a brilliant sign for Indian hockey – that if given an opportunity to excel with international players in an open (four quarters of 17 ½ minutes each) and competitive format, young Indian hockey players have the hunger and passion to become a winner.
The floodgates were opened right in the first match – the Bhopal Badshahs- Chandigarh Comets clash produced seven goals in a tie which ended around midnight. After 24 matches, the trend is growing at a stunning pace, with an average of 5+ goals per match. For a nation known for producing brilliant attacking hockey but being perennially goal shy, this is a path-breaking trend.
Interestingly, almost 56 per cent of the goals in the Bridgestone WSH have come from field goals while 40 per cent were scored from penalty-corners (PCs). Sher-E-Punjab which has arguably the most enterprising forwardline amongst the eight teams, has struck 19 goals in six matches till now – only three have been scored from PCs and one from a penalty stroke. A majority of the goals came from their deadly duo, forwards Deepak Thakur and skipper Prabhjot Singh, both have four goals each to their names till now.
On the other hand, a less-fancied team like Pune Strykers has struck 20 goals in six matches – 11 from field goals, 9 PC goals which included seven from the young drag-flicker, Gurpreet Singh, who honed his skill with the Namdharis team.
Another heartening trend is the increasing number of PC experts there are now in Indian hockey with the exception of a few foreigners playing in the WSH league. A total of 52 goals have come through penalty-corners till action completed on March 11. There are around 9-10 PC specialists playing for different teams in the Bridgestone WSH. Pakistani star Imran Wari for Chennai Cheetah (12 goals in six matches), Pune Strykers’ Gupreet Singh (seven), Gurjinder Singh of Chandigarh Comets (five), Karnataka Lions Len Aiyappa (four), Sher-E-Punjab’s Harpreet Singh and Delhi Wizards Vikramjeet Singh (two goals each) are proving themselves in this department. This is a major improvement for Indian hockey – till a year ago, India had just 3-4 quality drag-flickers after the trend was started by Baljeet Singh Dhillon in 2000, and made famous by Jugraj Singh in 2002.
Statsplay:
128 goals scored in 24 Matches
72 goals scored from field goals in 24 matches
52 goals scored from penalty-corners in 24 matches
4 goals scored from penalty strokes in 24 matches
