Illness to key players a concern for coach
India’s chances in the upcoming 7th Asia Cup junior women’s hockey tournament have been weakened due to illness to key players. With 10 days to go for the continental event, starting September 5 in the Chinese city of Changzhou, the fitness of key players, including Jaspreet Kaur, looks doubtful.
UNSURE
The players, according to chief coach Mathias Ahrens, are recovering. However, he wasn’t sure whether all those sidelined would be fully fit when the event begins.
“It’s difficult to say anything at the moment,” he said before Tuesday’s training session, adding, “With key players not enjoying good health, it would be a challenging job at hand.”
In the buildup to the continental tournament, as many as seven players have fallen ill. The tournament features nine teams and India is clubbed with hosts China, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea.
Meanwhile, Ahrens, who is also overseeing the training of the senior team, is waiting for the continental tournament to get over so that he can devote more time to senior team, which has a bright chance of qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Ahrens said he had already chalked out the Rio roadmap, but once the international hockey federation (FIH) officially announces India’s qualification, he would finalise it. “The national camp is on. There are certain areas, including penalty-corner conversion, that need to be focused upon in future,” he said.