NE Watch Desk
The quest for a spot in the Paris
Olympics commences with the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers 2024 at the Marang
Gomke Jaipal Singh Astro Turf in Jharkhand capital Ranchi. The eight
participating teams are divided into two pools, with Germany, Japan, Chile, and
Czech Republic in Pool A, and hosts Bharat placed in Pool B alongside New
Zealand, United States, and Italy. Only the top three teams from the tournament
will secure Olympic qualification.
The Savita-led Indian women’s hockey
team, aspiring for their third consecutive Olympic berth, enters the tournament
with optimism. Ranked second-highest among the participating teams, the hosts
draw confidence from notable performances, especially at the Asian Champions
Trophy, where they avenged a loss to China in the 19th Asian Games semi-finals
in Hangzhou.
Exuding confidence, team captain Savita
stated to realize the Paris Olympics dream, “the entire team understands this is the first step” and thus they are “ready for the tournament”. She added they will not worry too much about what the rivals will bring to the table and their focus will be on the strength.
The Indian team kicks off their campaign
against United States on Saturday, aiming to replicate their success from the
2019 Olympic Qualifiers against the same opponent. Savita acknowledged the
pressure but emphasized the team’s mental preparation to overcome challenges.
Chief coach Janneke Schopman
acknowledged the significance of the Olympics and the pressure associated with
qualifying. She highlighted the team’s preparedness, leveraging the advantage
of playing in Ranchi, where strong local support was witnessed during the Asian
Champions Trophy.
Schopman expressed confidence, stating, “If
our team plays to our potential, I know we stand a sure shot to qualify.”
The Indian team’s schedule includes
matches against United States on January 13, New Zealand on January 14, and
Italy on January 16. The semifinals are scheduled for January 18, with the
final taking place on January 19.
