Hockey Olympic Qualifier: Indian women promise to put up a good show
As the gruelling run to the 18-month long qualification process is heading for its climax, the line-up for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 hockey competitions will be confirmed this weekend as the final three days of the FIH Hockey Olympic qualifiers take place. And in the final round of the Olympic Qualifiers, Indian teams, both men and women, will be fighting the visiting Russian men and American women teams at Kalinga Stadium on Bhubaneshwar on Friday and Saturday.
With the advantages of holding higher FIH rankings than their respective opponents, India will also have the benefit of playing before the home crowds. Though men's team have played several times at Kalinga Stadium , it will be the first time that Indian women's team will play against the United States.
Last time, India played the US in Olympics was in Rio where the Americans won 3-0. Much water has flown down the Ganges since then. While Indian women have constantly been rising in their FIH rankings, unfortunately the US has been slipping down. In the last Pan Am Games, USA lost its conventional gold or silver position to a bronze in Lima after losing to Canada. And before embarking upon its last journey for a berth in Tokyo Olympics, the US women played two Test matches against Canada, winning one and losing the other.
Playing against India in slightly hot and humid weather conditions and against strong crowds may be a new experience for the Americans. At a media briefing the US skipper admitted that "Indian grls have been improving and they have a slight advantage over us. They are fast and skilful," she added.
Indian skipper Rani Rampal said that the girls have been trained to give out their best till the last second as these Olympic Qualifiers often produce surprise results. Everything goes on stakes as a win can take a team to Olympic Games.
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"One can talk of medals or FIH rankings only if one is there in Olympic Games," said Indian coach maintaining that immediate task was to clear the qualification hurdle. The team, he says, has shown tremendous improvement. All will, however, depend upon the performance in the crucial double game qualification round."
Indian men's team has made one change ahead of its crucial FIH Olympic Qualifier matches against Russia on November 1 and 2. Deep defender-dragflicker Varun Kumar who sustained an injury on his shoulder and right bicep has been replaced by experienced defender Birender Lakra. "Varun Kumar injured his shoulder and right bicep on Monday while training. He has been receiving treatment since then but unfortunately it has not shown enough signs of improvement," explained Graham Reid, Chief Coach, Indian men's team.
He further added, "Following the advice from our medical staff who have suggested that he requires rest for a few weeks before he returns to action. Hence, we have decided to replace him with Birendra Lakra, a class defender with over 170 International Caps. He is very experienced and knows well the conditions in Bhubaneswar and is ready to play."
Last weekend, six nations secured berths at next year’s global sporting showpiece, with Australia women, China women, Spain’s women and men, Netherlands men and Canada men all winning their respective two-game play-offs over three dramatic days of action.
With ten teams having already achieved Olympic qualification by winning their respective continental championships, there are now just eight - four men, four women - of the 24 Olympic tickets unassigned, something that will be resolved between Friday 1 and Sunday November 3.
-PTC News
