Asian Games 2014: Indian Women Face Defending Champions China in Stern Hockey Test
Indian women's hockey team won their Asian Games opening match against Thailand. The Chinese though would be far more challenging opponents.
India will have a chance to avenge there twin defeats of the earlier Asian Games when they take on defending champions China in the women's hockey competition here on Wednesday.
World No.13 India, who won their opener against Thailand 3-0 on Monday, will need to raise their game against fifth-ranked China by a few notches. The Chinese eves defeated Malaysia 1-0 in their opening match. (Complete coverage of Asian Games 2014)
India had lost 1-2 to China before finishing a disappointing fourth in the 2010 Guangzhou edition. They went down to the eventual winners 1-3 at 2006 Doha and ended up with the bronze medal.
Speaking ahead of the match, India chief coach Neil Hawgood said, "While the team is confident of continuing the form in the clash against China, the girls are also not forgetting their last outing against them. The team is looking forward to playing the highest ranked Asian team in the tournament to see where we stand against a side sitting amongst the top 10 in the world."
Hawgood said the team has prepared well for the contest.
"Am sure we'll be able to break their patterns of play to our advantage in the critical areas of the field. We have minutely worked on our conversions, penalty corners and strategies to penetrate their D. The aim is to get them on the defensive from the start of the game and we are banking on Rani, Poonam Rani and Vandana Katariya to stick to the plan."
Indian forward Vandana added, "our practice sessions are working in our favour to generate positive results. Though winning the first match in the tournament against Thailand has helped in motivating the team, we are aware of China's capabilities as well and are working really hard to give them a tough time on the field. Our focus is to secure and convert as many penalty corners as possible."