India Ladies’s Hockey Workforce Seems To Showcase Actual Potential In Asian Champions Trophy
The failure to clinch the gold medal on the just-concluded Asian Video games nonetheless recent in its thoughts, the Indian girls’s hockey workforce will look to showcase its actual potential within the Asian Champions Trophy when it begins its marketing campaign in opposition to Thailand in Ranchi on Friday. India misplaced 0-4 to China within the semifinals of the Asian Video games in Hangzhou however defeated Japan 2-1 to clinch the bronze medal. The bronze medal, nonetheless, was a disappointing consequence for the Indians, who began as favourites and have been eyeing a gold within the Asian Video games, which might have given them a direct ticket to subsequent 12 months’s Paris Olympics.
The ACT, nonetheless, will present an ideal platform for the Savita Punia-led facet to avenge their defeat in opposition to reigning Asian Video games champions China and silver medallists Korea, in opposition to whom they drew 1-1 within the league phases.
Six groups, together with hosts India, China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Thailand will compete within the event. As per the format, all six groups will play one another within the round-robin league stage and the top-four groups will advance to the semifinals.
India’s chief coach Janneke Schopman has named a tried and examined facet, with the one notable absentee from the Asian Video games squad being skilled midfielder Sushila Chanu, who has been rested as a result of a suspected Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) damage.
Baljeet Kaur has changed Sushila within the squad.
Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke, who too was within the Asian Video games squad, has been named as a alternative participant together with Sharmila Devi and can journey with the squad as back-up choice.
Apart from Sushila, there have been no surprises as such within the squad named for the ACT to be performed on the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh AstroTurf Hockey Stadium right here from October 27 until November 5.
Apart from India, defending champions Japan and Asian Video games gold medallist China are the opposite favourites within the event.
After Thailand, India will play Malaysia (October 28), China (October 30), Japan (October 31) and Korea (November 2). The semifinals and closing are scheduled for November 4 and 5.
The Indians have been near-perfect on the Asian Video games barring one dangerous day in opposition to China within the semifinals and they might look to erase that reminiscence and make a recent begin within the ACT.
The event may also function a platform for India forward of subsequent 12 months’s Olympic qualifiers to be performed right here.
“In tournaments like these, no workforce will be taken frivolously. We’re wanting ahead to those matches as they’ll assist us take a look at our mettle in opposition to among the most formidable groups in Asia.
“After all, we need to win each match and carry out properly right here. We’re additionally seeking to put together for the Paris 2024 Olympics Qualifiers, which may also be hosted in Ranchi. This event serves as a significant preparatory take a look at earlier than the final word problem of securing an Olympic berth,” India captain Savita stated.
India’s chief coach Schopman agreed with Savita.
“Taking part in these matches forward of the Olympics Qualifiers is a superb alternative. It permits us to check the opposite groups and assess how gamers carry out their assigned roles. “Our current performances within the Asian Video games have been promising, and I’m excited and desperate to see our workforce in motion,” the Dutch stated.
India may also be aiming to safe their second girls’s Asian Champions Trophy title after seven years.
India had gained the title as soon as in 2016 and completed runners-up within the 2013 and 2018 editions, moreover ending third in 2010.
The ladies’s ACT is being hosted in India for the primary time.
In the meantime in different matches on the opening day, title holders Japan will tackle Malaysia and China will face South Korea.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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