Tribune News Service
Indervir Grewal
Chandigarh, June 30
The hockey Women’s World Cup is back, and so are the talks of a podium finish for the Indian team. “We will do everything it takes to finish on the podium,” ace drag-flicker Gurjit Kaur said.
In 2018, India had gone into the World Cup with the same self-belief, even as not many pinned their hopes on the team. However, India, led by Rani Rampal, had surpassed all expectations, finishing eighth after a shootout loss in the quarterfinals. It was India’s best finish in 40 years at the tournament — India had finished seventh in the 1978 edition. Four years later, the team is aiming to match India’s best finish — fourth place in the 1974 edition — with one eye on the podium.
“Last time, we exited in the quarterfinals but this time we will do our best to finish in the top-four,” said captain and goalkeeper Savita Punia.
And this time, the team’s words carry weight, especially as they have the results to back them. “No one expected us to go beyond the quarterfinals in the Olympics. Having finished fourth in Tokyo, everyone took notice of us,” Savita said.
India followed it up with a third-place finish in their debut season of the Pro League. With improved results, the expectations have risen. “Earlier, there were expectations from the men’s team only. But now, people expect the women also to finish in the top-three,” Savita said.
However, with more attention, the pressure will also increase, and world No. 8 India can no more fly under the radar. While the higher-ranked teams will be wary of India, teams ranked below will be gunning for them.
India coach Janneke Schopman said consistency is the key for finishing in the top-four. “Women’s hockey at this moment is very tight, anyone can beat anyone,” Schopman said. “If we can play consistently well… who knows a podium is a possibility. At the same time if we don’t perform we can miss the quarterfinals,” she added.
Despite finishing in the top-three in the Pro League, India struggled to maintain their level in it. While they held a strong Argentina 3-3 before winning the shootout and beat the higher-ranked Spain, they also lost 0-5 to Belgium and struggled against second-string teams from Germany and the Netherlands. “I think we have great potential and if we actually play to our potential we are a tough team to beat,” Schopman said.
India’s matches
vs England (world No. 4), July 3
vs China (No. 13), July 5
vs New Zealand (No. 9), July 7
Squad
Savita Punia, Bichu Devi, Deep Grace Ekka, Gurjit Kaur, Nikki Pradhan, Udita, Nisha, Sushila Chanu, Monika, Neha, Jyoti, Navjot Kaur, Sonika, Salima Tete, Vandana Katariya, Lalremsiami, Navneet Kaur, Sharmila Devi
Knockout over league
Only the top teams from the four pools are guaranteed a place in the quarterfinals. The teams placed second and third play crossover matches to reach the last-8 stage. India have shown that they perform better in the knockout matches, which are do-or-die scenarios. At the last World Cup, India had just sneaked into the knockouts after finishing third in their pool. But they won the crossover match 3-0 before losing the quarterfinal in the shootout. At the Tokyo Olympics, India finished fourth in their pool yet beat favourites Australia 1-0 in the quarterfinals.
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