Indian hockey teams, both senior and junior, were often guilty of buckling under pressure in big events and senior national team captain Sardar Singh today called for roping in a qualified psychologist to work on the mental preparation of the players.
The just-concluded Junior World Cup here was the recent example of Indian players' weak mental conditions as, despite being tipped as a semifinal contender, the hosts crashed out in the pool stages to eventually finish a disappointing 10th.
Asked if he felt the urgent need of a psychologist in the team, Sardar said he hoped the senior national side gets one before Hockey World League final round to be held here from January 10-18.
"I feel we definitely need a psychologist with the team as early as possible. We even discussed this thing with (Hockey India's High Performance Director) Roelant Oltmans. When we were watching India's Junior World Cup matches from the stands, the players looked to be under pressure," Sardar told reporters during an event of his Hockey India League side, Delhi Waveriders here today.
"I felt that they were finding it difficult to handle the pressure of playing in front of home crowd," he said.
"Last time Hockey India said that they will try to rope in a psychologist and I am sure Oltmans will tell Hockey India our views. I hope before the Hockey World League Final, we will get the services of a psychologist," said the star midfielder, who is also the skipper of Waveriders.
"In the Dutch league, my team Bloemendaal lost first four games. Then the coaches there analysed why we lost and took one-on-one session with all the players. After that we won five games in a row," added Sardar, citing the example of his European club side.
Sardar said the pressure of expectations did not help the Indian youngsters at all in the Junior World Cup.
"It was not their level. They are much better players.
