Hindustan Times ST (Mumbai) - Live
India breeze past Korea
NEW DELHI: Two days before flying out to South Africa for the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup 2021, Salima Tete and the team were told that the December 5-16 event had been postponed indefinitely due to Covid-19. “Our bags were packed. To be told at the last minute that we are not travelling was very disappointing. We’d been waiting for a long time,” said India vice-captain Ishika Chaudhary.
The team returned to the drawing board, resumed training, played practice games against India seniors and stayed ready. A little over a month later they found out that the event had been rescheduled to April. The announcement lifted the team, motivating them to work harder.
All that preparation is showing as India qualified for the semi-finals—for the first time in nine years—convincingly beating two-time champions South Korea 3-0 in Potchefstroom on Friday. Mumtaz Khan (11th), Lalrindiki
(15th) and Sangita Kumari (41st) sounded the boards. This was India’s fourth successive win after beating Wales, Germany and Malaysia in the group stage.
On Sunday, India will play three-time champions Netherlands, the most successful team in the history of the tournament, for a place in the final. The only time India reached the podium was in 2013 when the Sushila Chanu-led outfit won bronze.
When the tournament got deferred, India Dutch coach Erik Wonink coordinated with women’s senior team coach and compatriot Janneke Schopman for practice matches at the national camps in Bengaluru and Bhubaneswar. Players like goalkeeper Bichu Devi Kharibam, defenders Chaudhary and Akshata Abaso Dhekale and forwards Deepika and Sangita were also handed senior team debuts in the Pro League. “I got a chance to perform at the senior level. Getting opportunities to play in the Pro League provided us that advantage. Many from our (junior) team debuted. The confidence we gained from Pro League matches is really helping us now,” said Chaudhary.
The presence of three Olympians—Tete, Lalremsiami and Sharmila Devi— who were part of the team that finished fourth in Tokyo has also helped. “We tried a lot of combinations in the practice matches against the seniors. A lot of players didn’t know how to play in structure. They do now,” said Tete.
Pro League: India women beat Netherlands
The Netherlands may be the reigning Olympic and world champions but an inexperienced side turned up for the FIH Hockey Women’s Pro League contest against India, losing 1-2 in Bhubaneswar on Friday. Neha (11th) and Sonika (28th) scored a goal each via the penalty corner while Yibbi Jansen (40th) scored via a stroke.