A pivotal force in the senior team now, the son of former Indian hockey ace Ajit Singh has started to understand the nuances of the international game. On the eve of the Champions Trophy, Gagan spoke to Nagraj Gollapudi about the team's morale its chances at the 25th edition of the tournament.
Excerpts.
What did the team focus on during the camp in Lucknow?
The focus was mostly on how the forward line can boost its chances of making inroads into the rival camp. For this we have to have good coordination between the attack and defence.
How were the sessions split daily?
The morning session, which started at six, concentrated on fitness: endurance-run, weight training, jumps and stretches. Once these warm-ups were over we switched to attack versus defence, where we focused on receiving and taking short corners. This was about for three-and-a-half hours. Then we came back in the evening at four to play a game where we could test our skills practiced in the morning, with two sessions of play lasting 40 minutes each.
What was the coach's analysis of your own game?
The coach [Rajinder Singh] wants me to score more field goals and for this the communication between the half-line and forwards has to be very good. So during the practice sessions, we forwards tried to network well with the half-line and defence to try and work out a strategy which is transparent and smooth enough for everyone.
You helped India win the Junior World Cup two years back. What were the lessons you learnt during that stint?
Leading a side is always a difficult and responsible job, as you are always the pivot around which the team functions. As a leader you need to keep the balance of the side proper and always communicate with the players and also see that everyone is focused on the game.
So, has that helped you in your graduation to the senior level now?
Yes, it has to an extent. But the hockey played at the international level now is completely different from the junior. The pace of the game is very fast; there's a rigid man-to-man marking always and that makes getting hold of the ball very tough. You have run really fast all the time and it is not that easy to ward off the opposition defence and score a goal.
Recently you had mentioned the problem of communication among players in the dying minutes of the game was costing India dearly. What has been done about that in the camp?
Well, as I said earlier, during our practice games, in the last 15-odd minutes, we solely concentrated on how to be transparent so the defence and the forward line know their responsibilities properly and we don't lose the initiative which was helping teams come back against us recently.
How does a young striker like you gel his game with the mercurial pace of a senior player, like Dhanraj Pillay?
Our strategy is simple: just put more pressure on the opposition defence by combining well, like one vs two, one to one, dodging the opposition defence and score the goals.
Finally, what are India's chances at the Champions Trophy?
We have a good chance as we are now more straightway into the attack mode right from the beginning. If we can convert our short corners successfully we can give a good fight to any team. We have a good forward line and if our defence can stand together during crucial moments, we are confident of doing well.