Shardanand’s rise to ‘special’ status

IT’S fair to say Indian hockey players have seldom relished the big stage at home, especially during blue riband events like the World Cup.

- SWAROOP SWAMINATHAN @Chennai

Post the disappointment of the last edition in 2023, then coach Graham Reid spoke about what a mental conditioning coach could do to the team.“Tt (requirement of a mental conditioning coach) has come up (for discussion) before but I did not really think it was needed at that point,” he had said. “I thought, I had enough experience to be able to impart the sort of stuff we have been talking about.” The Australian further elaborated that a mental conditioning coach was needed to help the team deal with pressure. On Friday night, under the bright lights, Shardanand Tiwari embraced pressure like an old friend. Three times he stepped up and all three times he converted the penalty s