It's been 16 long years that Indian men's hockey team won a gold medal at the Asian Games, but its chief coach Terry Walsh said that the Sardar Singh-led side has a realistic chance of breaking the jinx in the upcoming continental event to be held in Incheon, South Korea.
India won only two gold medals in hockey at the Asian Games (1966 and 1998), and their best finish after that was a silver medal in 2002 Busan edition of the mega-event.
But Walsh feels going by India's latest showing in the Commonwealth Games, his wards will start as one of the favourites in the Incheon Games to be held from September 19 to October 4.
"Yeah, you would think so," was Walsh's reply when asked whether India consider themselves as favourites in the Asian Games.
"Realistically, that would be the case. That would be fair and reasonable assessment but that doesn't mean anything as we have seen in the past. It doesn't matter whether you are ranked 14th or 4 you have to play in a tournament.
"We certainly should be regarded as one of the teams with a medal prospect in the Asian Games but we have to earn that," he said.
But achieving the target is easier said than done as India have been clubbed alongside arch-rivals and eight-time and defending champions Pakistan in Pool B. The other teams in India's pool are dark horse China, Oman and Sri Lanka.
Walsh is fully aware about the task at hand but feels that having not played top-class international hockey for quite some time, the pressure would be more on Pakistan than India.
"I think if there is any pressure that would be more on a team which has not played at this level for 12 months or so. They have a bunch of younger guys who haven't had a lot of international experience at this level. But there is always the historical and traditional pressure with India and Pakistan just like Germany and Holland and Australia and New Zealand," the Australian said.
"But we have to guard against complacency. It's (the pool) not as easy as it looks. China are a good side, they can play well and we all know Pakistan is a very very good team. Not for one moment we can think that we are automatic qualifier from this pool we will have to work really hard.
