Indian Hockey: Shorter camps for bigger gains

Fatigue and proper recovery are components that can make or break a team’s campaign in modern times. The Indian hockey team learnt it the hard way at the 2014 World Cup in the Netherlands — where they finished ninth — the players complaining of “fatigue” and “being burnt out” on their arrival at the Hague, after back-to-back tournaments and gruelling camps.

For Rio, the think-tank has decided to break away from the tradition, with players requesting coach and high performance director Roelant Oltmans to hold “shorter, high-intensity” camps. The Dutchman, in charge of their performance programmes, obliged by releasing the players last week for a well-deserved break, cutting down on the originally planned 40-day camp.

Oltmans says it was done to “ensure the players feel fresh and remain hungry to win.”

Said Oltmans, “Everything we do in this period will be demanding not just physically but also mentally. Though we are entering an exciting period ahead of the Olympics and aiming to peak at Rio, it was important to take off for a week and be in a different environment.”

India were the first to qualify for the Rio Games following their Asian Games gold in 2014, and that has allowed the team management to plan and prepare in advance.

Goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh, who will lead at the Champions Trophy in London to be played from June 10 to 17, said the move was a planned one.

“I remember the 2012 London Olympics. We had a month-long tour of Europe ahead of the Games and reached London directly from there. After being on the road for almost two months, the players were homesick and tired.

“Psychologically, it effects a player and it is significant to bring along such changes. All top nations train with greater intensity in shorter camps. The muscles need recovery and the mind also needs to be fresh.”

Striker S.V. Sunil too welcomed the decision.

“We have had gruelling schedules, like the recent three-week camp focused on intense physical activity.

“In today’s age, it is important to train smart, use the best scientific methods and recover well.

“It was a good move and we hope to approach Rio with fresher minds and fresher bodies.”

After a week’s break, the team gathered in Bengaluru on the day and will head to the United Kingdom on June 5 for the Champions Trophy. From there, they travel to Valencia for a six-nation event before returning home for a 10-day break.

This will be followed by a two-week camp before they finally leave for Brazil.