This victory also erased the bitter memory of four years ago of having missed the Beijing Olympics for the first time in 80 years when they lost in the final 0-2 to England in Chile under Indian coach Joaquim Carvalho.

This time, however, under Australian coach Michael Jack Nobbs, the "Men in Blue" did not repeat the same mistakes and made short work of the 18th ranked France 8-1.

What really made the difference between the two teams contesting the qualification final was that both earned seven penalty corners each. The visitors failed to convert any while the hosts converted six.

Sandeep Singh, who witnessed the Chile debacle from close and once known as the most problematic person with a controversial attitude in Indian hockey, has turned a new leaf in his checkered career by taking the lead by performing and scoring five goals in the final. He was the highest goal scorer of the tournament with 16 goals out of the 44 scored by India.

The other player who caught the eye was Sardar Singh, who held sway in midfield, and was rightly awarded the Player of the Tournament.

But the credit for the Indian team's success and consistency goes to their physical fitness. The man behind this being David John, the physical trainer who kept a low profile, stayed away from the media, worked hard with the players in the gymnasium and also took care of their diet.

The masters of the game who ruled the world between 1928 and 1956, known as the golden days of Indian hockey, with their deft stick work and artistic forays has now only been reduced to history. The fact, that 10th ranked India bagged 11 Olympic medals, including eight Olympic golds, bears testimony to the successful story written by the wizards of yore.

The decline of the 1975 World Cup champions in Kuala Lumpur began in the 70s after the onset of the artificial surfaces, which literally turned the game on its head. From a work of art the game turned into power play. Also stamina was key in a game that also saw new rules being introduced to keep its popularity.

The Indians failed to adapt to the new surface and that left them as also rans as they lacked the power and stamina of the Europeans.

Nobbs, who took over from Spanish coach Jose Basra says, "We're looking to get well-built and physically fit players in the team, which needs the ruthlessness of the Australians and other European teams to do well at the global level." The last Olympic medal India won was in 1980, Moscow, boycotted by all the top nations.

Despite all this why is there optimism under Nobbs? It is because the team is looking different from the teams that played in the last three decades. The form of the Indian team during this period was affected by inconsistency, fitness or the lack of it and the wilting of the defense in the last quarter that led to the team conceding goals.

However, this was not to be in the qualifiers. The team played attacking hockey scoring 44 goals and conceding nine. The weakest link still being the defense that conceded soft goals.

Nobbs has done a great job during a short period of time by bringing about a blend of traditional and European flair, the same style as the Australians play. He, however, realizes that it's going to be a different cup of tea playing the robust Germany, Argentina, Spain, the tactical Aussies and The Netherlands, who depend on speed and counter attacks. Goals for India will be at a premium against these teams. But on present display, they can prove a match to them.

The road to gold in London will be tough and for the Indians to enter the last four will be an achievement and success for Nobbs, who said after the final that the day before was "The longest 24 hours of his life." India's hockey greats, Zafar Iqbal, Aslam Sher Khan, Ajitpal Singh were of the same opinion that it was a great display of aggressive hockey and high-level physical fitness. They also had similar views of the defense and forward line, which they said was a matter of great concern.

According to them, it's an uphill task to enter the semifinals at the London Olympics, but not impossible. That's because the team has reached a plateau, and from there on it is only way up to the peak.