For 54 minutes, they huffed and puffed, however couldn’t break the Japanese door down. A 0-1 defeat for the Indian girls’s hockey staff that night time meant their desires of going to Paris evaporated within the Ranchi night time sky earlier this 12 months. Within the cycle between Tokyo and Paris, that was maybe India’s greatest downfall. There was by no means a scarcity of making an attempt, or expertise for that matter, however the obvious-yet-hardest solution to win a hockey match is to place the ball at the back of the online.
On the Asian Champions Trophy in Rajgir, India’s key mission will likely be targets, it is going to be the first job on the turf for returning head coach Harendra Singh. Earlier than his first task with the staff in the course of the European leg of the Professional League, he hadn’t had sufficient time to implement his strategies and the staff scored only one aim in his first 4 matches in cost. However they began discovering their toes within the later a part of that tour, and having skilled for a number of months now, outcomes will likely be anticipated in Bihar.
“The secret is to take the correct of resolution on the proper time,” Harendra instructed The Indian Categorical. “For that, the primary contact contained in the circle is essential and we’re working onerous on that. One other essential factor is that you need to be calm and composed whenever you obtain the ball contained in the circle — whether or not you take a shot at aim, or making the subsequent transfer to somebody to attain. That’s a split-second resolution, and you need to fully keep within the second.”
Harendra’s thought course of in looking for extra targets has been to try to get his forwards to not take into consideration simply scoring.
What occurs with the gamers is that typically they overlook what their job is once they obtain the ball and simply suppose ‘aim karna hai, aim karna hai’. That usually leads to not utilizing the best ability. So we sat down with the strikers and instructed them to not go for the end result. First, sturdy receiving is essential, after which select your subsequent transfer: whether or not going for a shot, or making an attempt to get a deflection, or trying to discover the second angle, or making an attempt to win a PC.”
Give attention to PC conversion
And that’s the place the second key facet is available in: Penalty Nook conversion. Gurjit Kaur – scorer of the well-known aim in opposition to Australia on the Olympics in Tokyo – is just not within the scheme of issues anymore, largely all the way down to her shortcomings within the general sport. Harendra, nonetheless, is assured of widening that pool, led by younger ahead Deepika.
“We’re working with the three-four glints in the mean time. Deepika is in fact there, however there may be additionally Manisha (Chauhan), who I’m making an attempt to develop for the longer term,” the coach mentioned. “Deepika had slightly bit of favor and footwork points, I believe we now have rectified that and he or she is flicking rather well in the mean time.”
“For 4 months we now have actually labored onerous on this. On this Olympic cycle, I assure at the very least 4 or 5 good glints. I’ve the capability for it, I’ve labored with guys like Sandeep, Jugraj, Rupinder, Harmanpreet in my time. I’m a powerful believer in having one actually good goalkeeper and drag flicker. I’m going to work actually onerous on this facet, and I additionally imagine drag glints must be allrounders like Harmanpreet and never be within the squad only for PCs.”
Rani Rampal, the best goalscorer India have produced, was sidelined for a majority of the time within the final cycle and has since introduced her retirement. Vandana Katariya, probably the most capped Indian participant, is just not a part of the ACT squad however Harendra insisted that she remains to be part of his plans going ahead, and this event is an opportunity for youthful gamers to step up. That’s the place Deepika, Sangita Kumari, Magnificence Dungdung have to begin firing.
And the supply-line has to be sharp too, the place the 2 new leaders must step up: captain Salima Tete and her deputy Navneet Kaur. The names are all acquainted, however this needs to be a contemporary begin as a result of the Indian girls’s hockey staff must get again on monitor quickly. And Harendra – in a really ‘Chak de! India’ sense – needs his wards to assist one another obtain it, slightly than simply take into consideration private glory.
“ACT will likely be a very good check for us for the strikers: easy methods to rating and likewise easy methods to make your teammates rating. I imagine extra in helping others to attain a aim slightly than a participant going for particular person glory. For me, that’s the reason the participant’s title is on the again of the jersey and the nation’s flag is in entrance. India has to win and for that, you need to help.”
India’s squad:
Goalkeepers: Savita, Bichu Devi Kharibam; Defenders: Udita, Jyoti, Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Ishika Chaudhary; Midfielders: Neha, Salima Tete, Sharmila Devi, Manisha Chauhan, Sunelita Toppo, Lalremsiami; Forwards: Navneet Kaur, Preeti Dubey, Sangita Kumari, Deepika, Magnificence Dungdung
