I will improve more with Sreejesh, says Akash Chikte

After Mumbai’s Adrian D’Souza served the Indian hockey team for almost a decade, two more state goalkeeper’s Akash Chikte and Suraj Karkera are emerging as the future custodians for the Indian hockey team.

Chikte from Pune and Karkera from Mumbai played crucial roles in India’s triumph in the Asia Cup hockey championship which Indian won after 10 years, beating Malaysia 2-1 in the final in Dhaka on Sunday.

Both Maharashtra custodians protected the goal with equal measure in the absence of experienced Indian goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh. Both Bombay Engineer Group recruits played in all seven games sharing the halves.

The Yavatmal-born Chikte also shared the ‘Best Sportsman of the Year’ award with Nashik-based chess Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi in the Sports Journalists Association of Mumbai (SJAM) Golden Jubilee annual awards 2017 held at the Bombay Gymkhana on Monday.

Chikte, who made his international debut last year in Sultan Azlan Shah tournament in Malaysia, was under some pressure before the Asia Cup hockey championship after India’s average show in the World League semi-finals in London earlier this year. But the 25-year-old soaked up the pressure well and was later declared ‘best goalkeeper’ of the tournament.

“I started playing international hockey only two years ago, so I am still learning. We both (goalkeepers) played equally against every opponent for match experience and we were told about it beforehand. Suraj and I supported each other well,” said Chikte, who also was part of Indian team that won the Asian Champions Trophy last year in Malaysia.

Though Sreejesh is set for a comeback after knee injury for the next international tournament World Hockey League final 2017 this December, Chikte is not worried about his place in the Indian side.

“He has always been supportive and played a big part in our development. I conceded one goal of the total 15 penalty corners I defended (in Asia Cup), which has improved after working with Sreejesh. I am looking forward to work with Sreejesh again in the national camp in Bengaluru (before the World League). Competition is good for the game and I will only improve when Sreejesh comes,” he said.

New coach Sjoerd Marijne had taken over from Roelant Oltmans only last month and Chikte revealed they were under no pressure to win title.

“Marijine has just taken over and we trained with him for about 10 days before the tournament. We were under no pressure to perform. Seniors in the side are asked for inputs. Training is decided on the basis of suggestions from players like captain Manpreet Singh, Sardar Singh,

S.V. Sunil and Rupinderpal Singh, Sreejesh” Chikte said.

He also said that 25-year-old Manpreet Singh has brought positivity to the side as captain. “I haven’t played much under other captains so I don’t know about their impact on the team but Manpreet has brought positivity to the side,” Chikte said.

Meanwhile, Vinod Tawde, Maharashtra’s minister for sports, youth welfare and education, gave away the SJAM Golden Jubilee annual awards 2017 on Monday. He distributed the awards along with former India cricket captain Dilip Vengsarkar, noted chess coach Raghunandan Gokhale, chess Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay, ex-national table tennis coach Kamlesh Mehta, ex-international paddler Monalisa Mehta and ex-Mumbai Ranji coach Praveen Amre.