Handle pressure, be aggressive to win in Asian Games: Dacer

New Delhi: Indian cueists have to learn the art of handling pressure and inculcate aggressive mentality if they want to end the medal drought in the Pool events in this year`s Asian Games, feels new coach Jorge C Dacer.

Dacer, who arrived here on Sunday, feels the aggressive mentality would help the Indians to hold their nerves during a close encounter against tough opponents and snatch quick breaks at the crucial moments. This is the first time a foreign coach has been recruited by Billiards and Snooker Federation of India and the Filipino said he will not hesitate to take out-of-the-box ways like yoga and meditation to improve the standard of the players. "Indians are not good at handling pressure situations. Suppose they are 0-3 down in best of seven frames, often they get nervous and lack concentration which eventually results in their defeat. There were many instances where opponents came from behind and won the match 4-3. Indians need to develop that thing," Dacer told reporters. "Yoga and meditation - these are the two things which I am looking at. These will help to sharpen their skill and concentration power. Indians are not so good at scoring breaks on the table with power. My first step would be to train them on how to score a break," he added.Dacer feels that the Indian Pool players should first change their style of play and be more aggressive in their approach. "In Philippines, 9-Ball players are very aggressive. They play on the table very fast. That`s what I am looking in the Indians," he said. With the Asian Games fast approaching, the former German Open 9-Ball champion thinks that Indians need to quickly get their acts together in order to perform well in China. "They need to improve their movement around the table and put the chalk regularly to their cue. Don`t pot the ball in a hurry. Don`t mind the scoreline. Take your time, take a big breathe. Don`t get pressurised, eye tour shot and play," the 60-year-old advised."Eye exercise or sighting is very important. When you bow, look at the object. Just be clear about the shot," he added. Dacer, who won the 9-Ball Snooker team gold medal in the Manila Sea Games in 1991, was also planning to lend some useful tips to the Indian coaches. "Let them play with all the three cues this time. I hope they win medals." PTI