From the build-up to the Girls’s Asian Champions Trophy in Rajgir and proper by means of the event as properly, all the main target round India had been on goal-scoring. Have they got what it takes to transform probabilities from open play? Can they lastly remedy their Penalty Nook troubles? However on the night time they received their second straight title by beating China 1-0, let’s start by focussing on the defence.
With 12 minutes to go within the first half, and the rating nonetheless 0-0, China received a Penalty Nook from which Tan Jinzhuang managed to search out some house to take a shot on objective. After diving in anticipation of the primary shot, India’s goalkeeper Bichu Devi rapidly obtained up and readied herself for Tan’s shot – that is one thing ’keepers practice laborious for. The shot on objective was seemingly well-struck and headed in direction of the again of the web when Bichu dived to her proper like a soccer ‘keeper and managed to get her persist with it within the nick of time.
Now, had China scored first, the complexion of the ultimate might have been completely different they usually may properly have shut store to frustrate India. However on the uncommon event that Indian defence was examined in Rajgir, they discovered somebody to step up. The all-important profitable objective then got here from the stick of Deepika, who endured one other blended night time, however produced a decisive second early within the third quarter. India received a Penalty Nook proper out of the gate from halftime, however after a botched entice from the injection, Deepika was present in house contained in the circle and he or she hit a robust reverse hit that beat the Chinese language defence. She’d miss a Penalty Stroke later (that she did so properly to win within the first place) however completed because the main goal-scorer (11) and participant of the event.
That maybe was the story of the event for India. Initially of a recent cycle underneath head coach Harendra Singh, they discovered options to completely different issues thrown at them over seven matches, and emerged with a 100% win report. India completed the event with 29 objectives, conceding simply two and sustaining a clear sheet in six matches.
“The crew’s outcomes weren’t good in current occasions, so I believe this is sort of a tonic,” Harendra mentioned after the match. “However we have to preserve our ft on the bottom, it is a good begin, which provides us confidence and tells us the place we have to work extra.”
“Individuals are speaking about penalty corners, it is a course of. A 21-year-old woman (Deepika), when she needed to ship, she did it at the moment. She may need missed a number of, however within the course of that we’re in, she and the entire crew performed attacking hockey with good defensive construction. What extra can I ask for? Nevertheless it shouldn’t be that we begin celebrating a lot that we overlook the trail we’re on,” he added.
The coach – delighted at profitable a event on his dwelling soil in Bihar – reiterated that the Asian Champions Trophy is simply the start line of this journey in direction of LA 2028, and that the World Cup and Asian Video games developing in 2026 is the acid check.
Trying forward, Harendra mentioned that he’ll work with a core group of 40 gamers. That retains the door open for loads of senior gamers – Vandana Katariya, Nikki Pradhan, Sonika, and Monika to call a number of – who didn’t function on this event. However the performances from kids like Sunelita Toppo, Vaishnavi Phalke and Magnificence Dungdung will imply the veterans may have their activity minimize out to win their place in the principle squad going ahead. If it fosters wholesome inner competitors, the preliminary indicators are good for India.
Coming into the event, Harendra was in a difficult spot. It was a title India had received in Ranchi final 12 months, however that didn’t matter a lot as they then missed out on the Olympic qualifiers. For the 2024 version, the 2 Asian groups who made it to Paris – Japan and eventual silver medallists China – introduced extremely inexperienced squads. So, if India did win the title once more, it could have been simply delivering what was least anticipated of them. However had they misplaced, it could have been seen as one other setback.
In that context, as Harendra mentioned, his job has solely begun. Nevertheless it has begun properly.
