It was a good learning experience : Chief coach Graham Reid over India’s exit from Asian Champions Trophy last month

Xtra Time Web Desk : Indian men’s hockey team chief coach Graham Reid on Friday opened up for the first time since India’s exit from the Asian Champions Trophy semi final and said that the setback came as a reality check for the Tokyo Olympic bronze medal winners ahead of a busy calendar year.

Defending champions India were stunned 3-5 by Japan in the semifinal of the ACT in Dhaka last month.

“It’s always difficult. You have to be put in situations. Everybody, including myself, hated that semifinal loss to Japan in the ACT. No one likes to experience something like that. But sometimes you have to experience that to learn from it,” Reid said in a virtual press conference.

“The message after that tournament was ‘Look this is what happens if we don’t treat every single game with the utmost importance. I think it was a really good learning experience.”

Reid said his message to the team after the historic Olympic medal was straightforward: “This is just the beginning and not the end of the road” and the loss against Japan will act as a reminder for them ahead of a busy year that includes FIH Pro league matches, Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.

“Straight after the Olympics I also said that ‘This is not it, this is just the start’ and that’s been our message from the moment we won the bronze medal in Tokyo. We have to take the best out of the opportunities from here,” he said.

India will start the year with back-to-back Pro League ties against South Africa and France in Potchefstroom from February 8 to 13.

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By: XtraTime
Title: It was a good learning experience : Chief coach Graham Reid over India’s exit from Asian Champions Trophy last month
Sourced From: xtratime.in/it-was-a-good-learning-experience-chief-coach-graham-reid-over-indias-exit-from-asian-champions-trophy-last-month/
Published Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2022 14:20:14 +0000

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