Indian ladies’s Hockey participant Deepika who scored two targets in opposition to Japan being greeted by teammates throughout the Ladies’s Asian Championship Trophy at Rajgir, Bihar on November 17, 2024.
| Photograph Credit score: MOORTHY R.V.
Reaching the semifinal unbeaten by means of their league matches, the Indian ladies’s group would fancy its possibilities to go all the way in which when it takes on Japan within the semifinal of the Asian Champions Trophy on the Rajgir Sports activities Advanced right here on Tuesday (November 18, 2024).
India received 3-0 in its final league sport in opposition to the identical opponent and because the most skilled facet within the competitors, the defending champion is anticipated to retain the title. The Indian group has additionally gotten progressively higher in each match, however each the gamers and the coach would bear in mind that the knockout stage is a special ball sport.
Going by the performances to this point, nonetheless, India ought to have little trigger for fear. The Indian ahead line has been in imperious kind, scoring 26 targets with an enormous 155 circle entries. Extra importantly, 14 of them have been in open play with the likes of Sangita Kumari and Navneet Kaur being among the many scorers. Deepika has shone in each open play and PCs, sitting fairly on the prime of the scorers’ listing with 10 targets.
The defence has been equally spectacular and with coach Harendra Singh insistent that the group’s first precedence was to not concede, conserving a clear sheet in 4 of the 5 video games can clearly be thought of an achievement. On the similar time, it has additionally meant that each the Indian goalkeepers – Savita and Bichhu Devi – have had little to do within the video games to this point with the defence of Jyoti, Udita and Ishika Chaudhary successfully conserving the opposition at bay.
“All groups include their very own plans, and we’ll face some resistance from Japan for certain, they’re a formidable facet. However we now have to do our homework, we should work out the place we will create extra possibilities. That is all a part of the method to create a brand new model of play and enhance our resolution making with a long-term view,” Harendra stated.
“What we do as a group when it comes to planning and preparation is after all there, however the gamers even have to determine and work on what they need to do individually. The group is a set of people and particular person ability is equally essential so we’ll check that,” he added.
Japan, in the meantime, examined India sufficient within the first half of their league match for the Indian group to not get complacent. The defence was hermetic for the longest interval and in Miyu Hasegawa – certainly one of their two gamers who have been on the Paris Olympics – they’ve an skilled and ready scorer.
The opposite semifinal will see Malaysia tackle Olympic silver medallist China for a spot within the ultimate whereas Korea and Thailand will battle it out to keep away from the wood spoon.
Printed – November 18, 2024 04:28 pm IST
