Bengaluru: Sher-E-Punjab and Karnataka Lions have not just competed for supremacy each time they have locked horns in the Bridgestone World Series Hockey but also tried to upstage each other in the battle for intensity. Their rivalry in the first semifinal of the WSH will replay some closely-guarded emotions stretching back to many years of cut-throat rivalry between the region in hockey and generally.
On current form, Sher-E-Punjab, who surprisingly finished second after dominating almost the entire strech of the league, appear to be the favourites ahead of their semifinal clash.
Their terrific forwardline led by the dangerous trio of the skilful Prabhjot Singh, the speedy Deepak Thakaur and goal-poacher Gagan Ajit Singh will be backed up by the talented duo of Mandeep Antil and Gagandeep Singh who give them a variety of option in the attack. The midfield will be led by Pakistani import Tariq Aziz, Olympian VS Vinaya and the reliable Matthew Hotchkis, with Prabhdeep Singh Powar and Inderjit Singh giving them room for substitutions and ensuring fresh pair of legs in the crucial area. Defender Harpal Singh and Harpreet Singh Nagra have contributed with fair success in almost all departments of defence, with Nagra donning the role of a penalty-corner exponent with mixed success in the absence of a specialist in the team. This is one area where the Lions score heavily over their higher-ranked opponent and could turn the match on its head.
Their contest has all the ingredients for a Bollywood potboiler; there is the old war horse Dhanraj Pillay hoping to prove a point; Arjun Halappa and Len Aiyappa have been part of numerous battles against the Prabhjot-Deepak Thakur-Gagan Ajit trio from their days in junior hockey. Along with Pakistani drag flicker Imran Warsi and Comets’ Gurjinder Singh, Aiyappa has been one of the most prolific drag-flickers in the league, but has been definitely the deadliest executioner of the push-stop-flick drill in the league so far.
The pressure can get to even the most toughest player before a high-voltage clash, and deflecting the hype and attention is perhaps one way of focussing hard on the game. Commenting on the semifinal ahead, Aiyappa said, “It’s a team effort. That is what made the difference for us. We were last in the league at one stage but we kept speaking to each other and motivating ourselves. If I am scoring well, I’m just doing my job.”
Sher-E-Punjab head coach Rajinder Singh Senior said, “We had some good rest in between, and we are now ready for the semifinal. We had already qualified for the semis and therefore the match against Delhi Wizards (which they lost 5-7) wasn’t that important.”
Clearly, the mindgames are on fulltime as the battle for supremacy begins with both teams playing down their weaknesses and strengths before the big clash.
