NETHERLANDS TEST AWAITS INDIAN GIRLS

NEW DELHI: In women’s hockey, facing the best in the world is one thing, facing Netherlands is another. They are the gold standard in the sport. Olympics, World Cup, Champions Trophy, Eurohockey Nations Championship, Pro League, the world No 1 Dutch are the reigning champions in all major events; the undisputed queens of the sport.

The status is no different at the junior level with Netherlands being the most successful team at the FIH Hockey Junior Women’s World Cup with three crowns. Out of the nine editions held till date, they have made the semi-finals eight times, also reaching the finals the last three times, winning twice.

The Salima Tete-led Indian team will have to play out of their skin to beat the benchmark in the sport in Sunday’s semi-final at Potchefstroom and earn their place in the summit clash on Tuesday.

India have had a dream run so far, having won all their matches—including against former champions Germany and South Korea—to reach the last four. But now they face their toughest test.

“We came into this tournament with great determination to win every match we play. As a team, we know we will be able to achieve results if we focus on ourselves, execute the plans we have for our opponents. For tomorrow’s match too, we will be more focused on what we can do as a team,” said Tete.

Like India, the Netherlands are unbeaten in the tournament, topping Pool A with three wins against United States, Zimbabwe, and Canada.

They then hammered hosts South Africa 5-0 in the quarterfinals to qualify for their seventh straight semi-finals. They are the only side to not concede a goal in the tournament.

Members of the junior Dutch team also play in domestic club competitions regularly against some of the best players in the world, something that India coach Erik Wonink, who also hails from Netherlands, is well aware of.

But given their run of form, the Wonink-coached outfit is confident they will be able to deliver against the mighty Dutch. “The exposure we have gained in these past years will be important when we play a team like Netherlands who are extremely good. There will not be any room for mistakes and it’s great that most of the players got an opportunity to play for the senior side in the Hockey Pro League so they are now better equipped to handle pressure in tense situations,” added Tete.