Focus on intensity, Indian hockey team begins training
LUCKNOW: The Indian men’s hockey team set the ball rolling with their first practice session since arrival in Bhubaneshwar for the Odisha Men’s Hockey World League Final.
The mega-event, which features top eight teams, starts in the Odisha capital on December 1.
The team went through the paces on a sunny Thursday morning at the Kalinga Stadium and chief coach Sjoerd Marijne emphasised on speed and tactical training as the 18-member squad played a short 30-minute half-court match against each other.
“Our first practice session went well. It is good to be at the Kalinga stadium. While it is my first time here, it is like a home for the players because all of them have played many Hockey India League matches here. The pitch is fast, so we like it,” said Marijne after the 90-minute training session.
The coach wants to build intensity during the training sessions over the next one week.
“The focus is to get the intensity higher and higher for our conditioning as we approach match-day. Our preparations have been really good with the 18-day national camp in Bengaluru but there is scope to get our level higher ahead of the tournament,” he said before adding, “We play short matches among ourselves so we keep the guys in match momentum.”
India take on defending champions Australia in their first Pool B match on the opening day. But before that, they play a practice match against Olympic gold medallists Argentina on November 27 and England the following day. “For me, the most important thing is performance. Rupinder and Biru (Birendra Lakra), who are making a comeback, also get an extra match before going into our first game against Australia.”
“While I am happy with how the players have done in training, playing (practice) matches is always good. It doesn’t matter that England are grouped with us. Playing practice match against any team is welcome,” remarked Sjoerd.