TOUGH DUTCH TEST FOR INDIA IN JUNIOR WC SEMIS

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 status is no different at the junior level with Netherlands being the most successful team at FIH Hockey Junior Women’s World Cup with three crowns. They have made the finals the last three times, winning twice.

The Salima Tete-led Indian team will have to play out of their skins 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, winning 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 also unbeaten in the tournament, topping Pool A with three wins against the United States, Zimbabwe, and Canada. They then hammered hosts South Africa 5-0 in the quarter-finals to qualify for their seventh straight semi-finals. They are the only side to not concede a goal yet.

Junior Dutch members 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 aware of.