WOMEN HOCKEY: LUCKNOW TO HOST FIRST MATCH BETWEEN INDIA AND FRANCE
LUCKNOW : For the first time in Lucknow, hosts junior Indian women’s team will take on French team in a fourmatch hockey test series, starting Friday, at the Padma Shri Mohd Shahid Stadium in the state capital under the lights. On Saturday, the two teams will play the second match before leaving for Gorakhpur to play the third match at Veer Bahadur Singh Sports College in a day game. The fourth and the final match would be played once again in Lucknow on Wednesday. Matches in Lucknow start at 5.00 pm.
LUCKNOW: Unlike their men counterpart who are currently ranked 15th, French women’s hockey team are languishing at the 30th position and lifting the side up in the ladder is the biggest target for team’s chief coach Gael Foulard Perso.
Gael has been working hard to achieve the target, trying everything possible to lift the performance of the side world over, and sounds hopeful to make it possible soon.
“There has been a lot of positivity in the team’s showing in recent events. I am sure our side will improve their performance in the four-match test series against junior Indian side,” Gael said on Wednesday soon after team’s first training session at the Padma Shri Mohd Shahid Stadium here.
The four-match series begins on Friday at the same venue under the lights at 5 pm. This will be followed by another match at the same venue the following day.
After a day’s rest, the two teams will travel to Gorakhpur to play their third match at the Veer Bahadur Singh Sports College on Monday.
The fourth and the final match would once again be played here on Wednesday.
“It’s a good exposure event for my girls and I am looking forward to a good performance. After playing against Indian juniors, we will be playing against Wales at France.”
“In fact, my mission is to take the team to top 25 in the world before the 2024 summer Olympics being hosted by France itself at Paris. I am targeting to test new variations and tactical handling of situation,” added Gael, who admired the playing facilities here.
“It’s a cool weather and we are habitual of such conditions. We are hoping some good display of stick work here by the two sides,” he said.
Young deep defender Salima Tete will lead 20-member Indian squad with Lalremsiami being her deputy. The camp of Indian team is going on at the SAI Regional Centre.
On Wednesday, the Indian team too had a long training session.
Chief coach Baljeet Singh was seen discussing strategies with team members during the one-hour session.
The team are expected to give a good fight to an experienced French.