Fresh from their disappointment of not securing a gold medal in the recent Asian Games, the Indian women’s hockey team is gearing up to exhibit their true potential at the Asian Champions Trophy (ACT). Their journey begins with a match against Thailand. While they clinched the bronze medal by defeating Japan 2-1, this outcome was not what the Indian team had hoped for, especially considering their status as favorites and the opportunity to earn a direct ticket to the Paris Olympics had they secured gold.
The ACT presents an opportunity for the Savita Punia-led Indian side to avenge their loss to reigning Asian Games champions China and silver medalists Korea, with whom they had a 1-1 draw during the league stages. Six teams, including hosts India, China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand, will compete in the tournament. The format includes a round-robin league stage, with the top four teams advancing to the semifinals.
For this competition, India’s chief coach, Janneke Schopman, has selected a familiar squad, with the only notable absence being experienced midfielder Sushila Chanu, who is resting due to a suspected Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury. Baljeet Kaur has been named as her replacement.
The Indian team had a strong showing at the Asian Games, except for their loss to China in the semifinals. They are determined to put that setback behind them and start fresh in the ACT. This tournament will also serve as valuable preparation for India’s Olympic qualifiers next year.
Savita, the captain of the Indian team, emphasized the significance of the upcoming matches, noting that no team should be underestimated. The matches will serve as a valuable test against formidable Asian teams, with the team’s primary goal being to secure victories and perform exceptionally. Additionally, they are preparing for the Paris 2024 Olympics Qualifiers, scheduled to take place in Ranchi. The tournament is viewed as a crucial preparatory stage before they face the ultimate challenge of earning a spot in the Olympics.
Schopman, the head coach, shared the same perspective, highlighting the opportunity presented by these matches leading up to the Olympics Qualifiers. It allows the team to closely examine their opponents and evaluate how each player fulfills their designated roles. Schopman expressed excitement about the team’s prospects, especially after their promising performances in the recent Asian Games.
The Indian team is aiming for their second women’s Asian Champions Trophy title, having previously won in 2016. They finished as runners-up in 2013 and 2018 and secured third place in 2010. This is the first time that the women’s ACT is being hosted in India.
In other matches on the opening day of the tournament, the titleholders Japan will face Malaysia, and China will compete against South Korea.
