Nobbs wants his players to continue to play in same intensity

Feb 27, 2012 |

IANS

New Delhi

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Ecstatic after guiding India to Olympic men's hockey event, coach Michael Nobbs on Sunday said his team would look to play with the same ‘intensity’ during the London Games in July.

"We have done every single thing possible before the tournament and I am happy we delivered. We were confident but still the job needed to be done. We have played all the matches right from beginning to finish with the same intensity and that is what we would look to continue, playing with high intensity," Nobbs told reporters after India thrashed France 8-1 in the final of Olympics qualification tournament.

"We need to start our Olympic preparation now. The boys will take some rest deservingly and then we will implement the whole plan starting from fitness, nutrition and focus on the things which we have done right here. There will be a line of tours and tournaments coming up and we will have to do well.

"It was a very important tournament because we needed to qualify for the Olympics, change our style and show that this team is worthy of admiration and respect," he added.

Nobbs said he does not want to make any promises for the Olympics right now.

"We have a new breed of players, a very happy team, there is no bickering, no politics and the team is playing as a unit. I don't want to set any targets, these are early days. I know if I get five years time, we can win the gold," he said.

Emphasising on the role of exercise physiologist David John, Nobbs said, "He brings the whole aspect of sports psychology and you have seen the results on the field."

Star drag-flicker Sandeep Singh, who scored 16 goals in the tournament said, "I had kept variations which I thought I would use in the final and it came off very well. This is not the end, I have to score more goals, it is a process, where we have to improve step by step as we enter into the Olympics.

"Now we have to play well against bigger and better teams. It's a great feeling to score 16 goals. I would like to carry the momentum as we progress further," he added.

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