India can qualify: Brasa
Former India coach Jose Brasa has said the turn around in Indian hockey was critical for the sport and felt that the team can qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.
''Hockey is still a popular sport in India. India has more hockey fans than many countries'', the Spaniard observed during an interaction with newspersons after a training schedule with Chennai Cheetas team for the forthcoming World Series Hockey(WSH), which has been postponed to February next from December 17.
Brasa who had coached Spain's women's team to a gold in the 1992 Olympics and was with the Indian team also before the present Aussie coach Michael Nobbs took over, said Indo-Pak matches draw hockey lovers in large numbers still, wherever they are played.
''Indian hockey has a unique style, which appeals to all neutral fans'', he also averred. India would definitely find a place among the contestants in the London Olympics. ''I am sure the eight times Olympic champions can beat Canada, the highest ranked team in India's group for the qualifiers'', he predicted.
Source: UNI
