“We've let India down”

Published August 6, 2012

“It's tough, because there is an expectation of your senior players. You don't get many chances like this in a lifetime.” -Photo by Reuters

LONDON: India hockey coach Michael Nobbs has apologised for his team's embarrassing Olympic Games performance, claiming they have let down the entire nation.

Eight-time champions India have lost all four of their preliminary round matches in London and are in danger of finishing last in the 12-team tournament.

The national mood has not been improved by seeing bitter rivals Pakistan move to the brink of qualifying for the semi-finals.

India's 4-1 defeat to South Korea on Sunday left them with a record of six goals scored against 15 conceded and sitting rock bottom of Group B.

“It's tough, because there is an expectation of your senior players. You don't get many chances like this in a lifetime,” said Nobbs.

“You have to give it everything you possibly can, because it's not often you get to play for your country and at the Olympic games.”

“There are no excuses. There's nothing more we can do as coaches, we're not out there on the field. The players have to perform, and they have been performing throughout the year.

“They've let themselves down, they've let us down, and they've let the Indian people down too, and I apologise for that because it's something we've got to fix. What's coming is a lot of hard work and a lot of pain.”

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