As the elite of the hockey world trotted across continents and engaged in some classic Pro League duels, the Indians played the Azlan Shah Cup and were kept busy in preparatory camps and tours before winning the FIH Series Finals and Olympic qualifiers as a result of which the eight-time gold medalists have earned a place in Tokyo 2020.
Conspicuous by its absence was the high drama of the Champions Trophy, the Asian Games, and the World Cup, but Indian fans can now look forward to more than half a year of exciting, high-quality hockey as Manpreet Singh and co. will be part of the second edition of the Pro League before they begin their Olympic quest.
Never before have the Olympic Games been preceded by a gruelling six-month-long competition - and, the man who has the unenviable task of guiding the Indians in both vital events views the unique challenges of the Pro League as an opportunity to perform under great pressure.
Graham Reid is the chosen one ahead of what could possibly be a momentous year for Indian hockey.
In an exclusive interaction with Sportskeeda, the veteran coach from Australia shares his vision for 2020, opines that the quarterfinal and crossover format now in place for the Olympics nullifies the perceived advantage of being in an easy pool, and reveals what has surprised him the most about the Indian camp thus far.
“Olympic pools are reflective of the state of world hockey today”
For Tokyo 2020, the Indian men have been pooled alongside Australia, Argentina, Spain, New Zealand, and Japan while Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, Canada, and South Africa make up Pool B.
Reid is emphatic that both pools are equally formidable - which is reflective of the state of world hockey at the moment.
Australia - arguably, the most accomplished team in the modern era have managed to win just a single Olympic gold - and Reid who was part of the Aussie team that won silver in Barcelona 1992 stresses on the fact that the level of competition at the Olympics is one of a kind.
“My mantra is to control the controllable - we cannot control the Pro League”
For the Indians, of course, the enormity of the task on hand is amplified considering the fact that they were not part of the inaugural edition of the Pro League.
Reid is pragmatic enough to accept the fact that his team will need to raise their game but prefers to focus on the pros and not the cons of the League.
Coaches may well be faced with a dilemma of sorts about whether or not to hold back a bit in the Pro League to save the best for the Olympic Games - but Reid opines that the pressure situations in the League will help steel up his boys ahead of the Tokyo extravaganza.
Consistency continues to be the keyword for the Indian think-tank and the Pro League presents an opportunity to test the waters before landing in Tokyo.
“Looking to build on the last few years”
Reid, who began his India stint with the tour Down Under in May says he was pleasantly surprised at how professional and tech-savvy the Indian boys are - and credits the former coaches for the same.
The 2020 edition of the Pro League begins at the Kalinga Stadium with hosts India taking on the Netherlands on January 18 and 19.
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