By IANS
New Delhi : Praising the Indian team for its recent Asia Cup win, hockey legend Dhanraj Pillay said Saturday that India should now focus on the Olympic qualifiers next year and maintain its winning momentum.
“We now need to focus on the Olympic qualifiers and keep this momentum going,” Pillay said here, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event organised in connection with the Delhi Half Marathon 2007.
India beat South Korea 7-2 to lift the Asia Cup last Sunday in Chennai.
India need to win one of three Olympic qualifying tournaments early next year to play during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Crediting the Indian forwards for their performance in the Asia Cup, the former hockey skipper said: “I give credit to (Indian coach) Joaquim Carvalho for making the team play a positive and attacking game. This is the hallmark of Indian and Pakistani hockey.”
Asked whether the win had brought India close to the standards of the Australians and Germans, he said: “I think Carvalho adopted a strategy to suit the Asia Cup.”
Pillay said Indians still needed a penalty corner (PC) specialist.
“Despite our forwards playing well, we still need a good PC specialist if we have to do well in the Olympic qualifiers,” said the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna recipient.
Asked if the team’s chances for the Olympics have dimmed following the sports ministry’s decision to demote hockey from ‘priority’ to ‘general’ status, Pillay, said: “After the Asia Cup success, if the sports ministry passes any request made by the IHF (Indian Hockey Federation), I don’t think the question of priority status will have any relevance.”
The ministry’s move means that the team would not be entitled to extra funds to prepare for the Olympics.
To another question on whether he would play in the 2007-08 domestic Premier Hockey League (PHL), Pillay said: “Yes, I am preparing for the PHL”.
The mercurial forward had turned out for the Maratha Warriors in the first two seasons of the PHL, but did not play last season.