A maze of matches

S. THYAGARAJAN

JULY 22: It is a warm and glorious Sunday. The hockey venue acquires a festival atmosphere, with cars streaming in and out of the huge ground outside the Sports Centre, in front of the McArthur Pavilion, where the Media Centre is located. All the 16 teams in the competition are on view. The Sunday schedule is such, that spectators will have the benefit of watching all the teams in action. There is particular interest for the match involving Scotland, after the home team had beaten Chile 5-1, with Laurence Docherty netting a four-goal aggregate. Scotland beat Russia by three zero, but there is disappointment that the team will not be in the top seven. Jorge Lombi of Argentina lays India low with a four-in-a-row devastation. The Indian officials are speechless and there is apprehension over the qualification of the team to the World Cup. Cedric puts up a brave face, exuding optimism, stating that if the defence does not commit so many errors then everything will be all right. The FIH announces its decision to shift back to the two pool system for the Kuala Lumpur edition of the World Cup. But the coaches, at least some of them are against the move, citing the strain on the players who have to play nine matches in 15 days. We run into Annabell Ess of Singapore, who discusses the hockey scene in Chennai, where she is planning to bring a team for a few matches. We inform the death of actor Sivaji Ganesan to the Tamil speaking members of the Indian team. Some of them are curious to know the political developments in the State.

July 23: Everyone is feeling the stress of long days and a maze of matches, draining out the energy of the players, umpires and the officials. We take a walk through the city centre and get a clear view of the enchanting palace and the gardens around it. The flowers are in full bloom and the lawns impeccably manicured, in and around the statue of the famous novelist, Sir Walter Scott, on Princess Street. The Monday morning rush is evident everywhere. The cafes are full and the people are hurrying to their places of work. We reach the ground just in time for the crucial match which Belgium wins against Canada. However, the talk of the day is the victory of Argentina over Poland, for, more significantly the extraordinary performance of the Argentine striker, Jorge Lombi. The Argentine journalist, Erin Weil, claims that Jorge Lombi is the inventor of the drag flick, which others, including the Dutch, have copied. Lombi's perfection is breath-taking. We meet Cedric D'Souza, who visits the Media Centre for conveying a fax message. He sounds confident that India will be through. Our dinner from the Indian Restaurant (Himalaya) is ready in the room and we finish the day with a sense of anxiety over India's next match against Japan.

July 24: Another day of glorious sunshine and we enjoy our ride to the ground. There is nothing to talk about the quality of hockey on view. We wait for the whole day for the India-Japan contest, a key match for the Indian team's qualification. India wins after a tough fight, we have to meet the deadline because the Media Centre is located a good 75 metres away from the main ground. The match ends around 11-15 p.m. Thoughout the day the talk in the Media Centre revolves round the bombing of the Sri Lanka airport and the fate of the cricket tour. Some English journalists wonder whether New Zealand will continue the tour. Some leading New Zealand players refused to be part of the tour some years ago after a bombing incident in front of their hotel. Similarly, Australia and West Indies refused to take part in the World Cup and even forfeited their points. A few argued that Sri Lanka should call off the series with so much danger there.

July 25: After an early morning downpour, the sun shines brightly. There is tension building up at Peffermill as the final round of qualifiers for semi-final places is to be determined. New Zealand overwhelms Canada in a second half blitz, but the latter's captain Rob Short puts up a brilliant performance, with a hat-trick to boot. The surprise outcome of the day is Russia holding Wales to a draw. Worst for the Indians is the defeat against Poland 1-2, despite 12 penalty corners. The match is an agonising experience of missed chances, with a handful of Indian supporters living in Scotland feeling miserable over the failure of the team to make it to the semi-final. The team needed only a draw. For the Indian journalists, the inquisition on why the Indian team is performing so poorly is difficult to endure. Almost everyone is asking why a player like Dhanraj Pillay is omitted and players not even 30 per cent of his calibre are in the squad. As Polish players celebrate on the field dancing in joy, the Indians quietly leave for the Pollock Halls where the teams are housed. "Will you beat Canada?, Now that's the only solution for you," says George Brink, a fan of Indian hockey, unable to conceal his pain. The Executive Board meeting is attended for the first time by Athletes' Panel Member, Rechelle Hawkes, triple gold medal winner, who read the Olympic oath at Sydney. Rechelle said "The meeting revealed the amount of consideration needed to make clear decisions on issues that were often more complex than expected. Though I found it a hard work, with the agenda very full for two days, I very much enjoyed my first experience of the FIH Executive Board." Wiert Doyer of the Netherlands is appointed as the Tournament Director for the next World Cup at Kuala Lumpur in 2002.

July 26: Rest day. The Media Centre is closed for the day. We take a city tour in open bus on a bright morning. The roads are teaming with tourists. The Princess Street, the hub of Edinburgh, resembles a mela as our bus passes through busy roads even as we are hooked to our headphones and listen to the details of the history and culture of Scotland. We pass through the huge, Palace, and various artistically designed historic buildings. Attractive is the Balmaral Hotel, once built by the Scottish Railways in 1901, now a five star hotel. It is said that the clock there is always five minutes late so as to make the hotel guests leave a few minutes early to catch the trains in time. We meet the doctor of the Bangladesh team near the shopping mall. He is also concerned about the poor run of the Indian team, but admits that Bangladesh has learnt a lot from the first international tournament. We also witness quite a few groups performing concerts. Unusual is the sight of a dog selling magazine. After a long walk, we return to the room.

July 27: Competition resumes, with the interest focussed on who among the two, Scotland and Wales, will make it to the Commonwealth Games. Wales struggles to beat Chile, while Scotland fights back when 18 seconds remained for a 3-3 draw. The tie-break ends in a heart-break for the Scottish supporters whose dreams are shattered by the 4-5 verdict. We run into David Burt, Chairman of the FIH Media and Public Relations Committee. He gets a briefing from us and the general coverage of the event in the international media. The semi-finals prove one sided with Argentina and Spain winning without difficulty. Everyone is anxious about India's chances, and Hari Kant, former Canadian goal-keeper, gives the team's chance 50-50. The Hockey Writers Club hosts a reception at the Thissle Suite at the Peffermill Pavilion for the journalists and photographers covering the competition. Patrick Rowley, Chairman, HWC, welcomes the gathering, which includes, the Tournament Director, Roger Self, the President of the Spanish Hockey Federation, Leandro Negre, David Burt, and the Media Officer, Nick Irvine. The HWC honours a journalist and official, Ernie Wall, of Scottish Hockey Federation, for his contribution to the cause of hockey and journalism as correspondent of The Telegraph. Patrick Rowley, presents a memento in memory of the late Sydney Friskin, Hockey Correspondent of The Times, London. Everyone enjoys the evening.

July 28: Blue skies and warm sunshine greet us as we drive along the Peffermill High Road to the picturesque University campus. We are wonder-struck as Japan obtains the golden goal against New Zealand which dominates throughout the match. The historic result gives Japan its place back in the coming World Cup after 28 years. The last appearance was in 1973 when India lost a nerve-wracking final against Holland in tie-breaker at Amstelveen. Patrick Rowley, the hockey historian and archivist, as he describes himself, calculates and announces the number of matches played between Japan and New Zealand. Out of the 22 meetings, Japan has won only four. India produces a fairly decent performance to overcome Canada to ensure its place, ending all anxiety, suspense and speculation on what will be the future if the team has failed. "Are you relieved now," asks, the TD, Roger Self, a genuine lover of Indian hockey. He agrees that World Cup without India will be a disaster for the sport and for Malaysia itself. The Indian camp is jubilant that at last the mission is accomplished. Cedric becomes emotional and is unable to express himself. The Indian team leaves the venue quickly to get ready for the dinner at the Indian Deputy High Commission. But for Canada it turns out to be a worst day. Their valuables in the dressing room are missing when they return. Apparently, someone had entered through the window and committed the theft. Gerry Ralph, President, Scottish Hockey Union, is distressed not merely because Scotland failed to make it to the World Cup or even for the Commonwealth Games, but is "annoyed" by such incidents. We share his sentiment.

July 29: It is the final day of the competition. The weather is cloudy, and the forecast is rain, late in the evening. At the ground, Poland and Belgium fight for the third place. We enquire about the investigation of the theft in the dressing room where the Canadians lost many valuables. Quite a few found their credit cards missing, and for one, Ravi Kahlon, it was a sentimental loss. Missing from his bag is a Khadi (wrist bracelet), which the Sikhs wear, a present from his grandfather who died recently. According to our sources, it is an insider's handiwork. The assumption is based on the fact that the surveillance cameras in the particular area were empty, without a tape to record. Canada caves in against New Zealand to give up the claim for the seventh place. India comes up with a dull performance, but wins against Japan for the fifth place. The final turns out to be a fantastic fare with the big holiday crowd enjoying every second of the ding dong battle which Argentina wins amidst pulsating moments. The prize giving away function is marked by music and dance related to the Youth of the Year, celebrated by the International Hockey Federation. Elated that India continues to be part of the World Cup, we take the coach back to the hotel, wondering how long should the Indian supporters have to endure this uncertainty over the future.