Two lesser known teams, Uttar Pradesh and Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), making it to the semifinals of the ongoing National A division hockey championship is a big surprise in the fourth edition of the event being conducted by Hockey India.
Uttar Pradesh, which had failed to make a mark in earlier editions, has gained from the ‘patch-up’ between two hockey factions in the State.
It posted some big-margin wins in the league stage on its way to book a spot in the last four.
The relatively inexperienced CAG, on the other hand, has benefitted from the experience of former India coach Harendra Singh. Uttar Pradesh’s sudden rise was not totally unexpected though.
The home team — comprising several international players such as Tushar Khandker, Devesh Chouhan, Diwakar Ram, Pramod Kumar — has banked on players from the State employed with prominent oil companies and a few talented youngsters.
'Most of these players were part of the team which won two prestigious domestic titles earlier this year. Development of the sport and sportspersons is our sole motto,' said Vivek Gupta, a player and Secretary of the Hockey Association of Uttar Pradesh.
UP, which topped Pool C after winning all four matches, will take on the high profile defending champion and unbeaten Air India in the semis on Saturday.
Considering the depth in the line-up of both sides, the contest may be a keenly-fought one.
CAG, featuring players with an average age of 24, did not have many reputed names. However, the young side stuck to the task assigned by new coach Harendra and reaped the reward.
'I was not doing any coaching, so I thought it would be nice to coach a young side. I introduced some new formations, where the whole team attacked and defended, and emphasized on one-touch hockey. The boys gave their best,' said Harendra.
The team, which shocked Punjab in the league to advance to the semis at the expense of last year’s runner-up, recorded four wins to finish atop Pool B.
The semifinals, in the presence of High Performance Director Roelant Oltmans, National Chief Coach Terry Walsh and the selectors, promise loads of entertainment.