Last Update: January 22, 2023, 15:30 IST
Indian hockey star Rupinder Pal Singh (Instagram)
Rupinder Pal Singh said penalty-corner defense has improved manifold in recent years and that is why drag-flickers around the world are finding it difficult to score.
East India Drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh feels international teams will find it more difficult to score from penalty corners as the use of technology in the game – such as video analysis by opponents – has made it harder for defenders to beat.
Rupinder, who was part of the bronze-winning team of the Tokyo Olympics but retired soon after, said penalty-corner defense has improved manifold in recent years and that is the reason why the drag-flicker is being used to score across the globe. It’s getting hard to do.
Defending penalty corners has become an art in recent years. Every team now has video analysis to study how opponents take their PCs. They will analyze how the opposition team’s drag flicks flick and how they use variations, and train accordingly to stop the target,” Rupinder told PTI over phone from his home in Punjab.
“It is the same in the case of India. We are also very good at defending penalty corners as we saw against England (in World cup). Our first rushers, Amit Rohidas and Manpreet Singh, are very quick to get out and turn down angles,” said Rupinder, who along with current India captain Harmanpreet Singh formed a potent drag-flicker duo at the Tokyo Olympics.
Of the 16 goals India have scored in the current World Cup, three have come from penalty corners, which is less than a fifth of the total goals. Overall, 43 goals have been scored from PCs in this World Cup out of a total of 130 goals scored in 24 matches at the end of the pool stages.
“This is a World Cup, not an international tournament or a bilateral Test. Every team will try to score as much as possible from PC and at the same time, they will try to defend PC the best they can,” the 32-year-old said.
Rupinder said that in addition to video analysis of opposition teams, better quality equipment, such as knee and mouth guards, gloves and head guards, have made drag flicks less intimidating than in the past, and so they can defend better now. Can
“Therefore, we cannot say that the effectiveness of the drag-flicker has decreased in hockey because the reduction in conversion rate is due to the PCs defending better than before. You can’t help it and it is the way it is.
He said, ‘But it is not that drag-flickers will not be able to score goals. They’ll score. It’s all about timing, if there is co-ordination between the injector, stopper (of the ball) and the drag-flicker, goals will be scored.”
One of the world’s most feared drag-flickers, Harmanpreet has had a quiet tournament so far, scoring just one goal from PC – against Wales in India’s final pool match on Thursday.
But Rupinder advised the Indian drag-flickers to stay calm and positive, saying that goals should come from their stick.
“It is in high pressure situations, he should remain calm and positive. I think he has done nothing wrong and he should not harbor negative thoughts.”
Harmanpreet was in scintillating form during the Tokyo Olympics, scoring six goals including one during the bronze-medal match against Germany. Rupinder also scored a run in that match with his drag flick.
“In Tokyo Olympics, we did well in converting and defending PC. So I am hopeful that this team will do well in the coming matches of this World Cup as well.”
As per FIH records, India converted 10 out of a total of 31 points in the Tokyo Olympics, while they conceded 10 goals out of 47 points.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)