The women`s Hockey World Cup is
barely nine months away but as of today no international match
-- home or away -- is planned for the Indian team as they gear
up for the elite event.
|Last Updated: Dec 07, 2009, 01:29 PM IST|Source: Bureau
New Delhi: The women`s Hockey World Cup is
barely nine months away but as of today no international match
-- home or away -- is planned for the Indian team as they gear
up for the elite event.
The World Cup is scheduled August 2010 in Argentina and
will be followed by the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi two
month later but the Indian team is yet to hear from Hockey
India about the planning for the crucial year.
The team is presently preparing in a camp in Bhopal under
coach M K Kaushik, who has demanded at least 24 international
matches to prepare for the mega events.
Kaushik admitted that preparations will be incomplete
without foreign tours.
"If we don`t get chance to play foreign teams before the
two major tournaments, naturally it will hamper our
preparation. We can judge ourself by playing against strong
teams only.”
"I have requested Hockey India to arrange tours of USA,
Canada, Argentina or South Korea before the World cup. I am
waiting for their reply." Kaushik told reporters.
India had qualified for the World Cup after reaching the
final of Asia Cup this year.
Hockey India is focussed on conducting its own elctions
as per the FIH ultimatum ahead of the men`s World Cup in
February.
On being asked about the women team`s preparations,
Hockey India chief A K Mattoo said they were planning foreign
tour for the girls.
"Definitely team will have two foreign tours before World
Cup. It is in the pipeline and we are in touch with some
countries for that," he said.
Kaushik said getting international exposure was a must
for India if the hosts have to do well at home in the Games.
"We won the gold in 2002 Manchester CWG and a silver in
Melbourne after that. Naturally we will be among the strong
contenders in Delhi CWG and would want to win the gold medal
in front of our home crowd. But we have to match our opponents
in terms of preparation for that.”
"We have requested Hockey India to arrange at least 24
international matches before World cup. Apart from that we
need a masseur for the girls. We have sent a letter and are
waiting for their reply," the coach said.
India had finished a poor 11th in 2006 Madrid World Cup.
This year, the Indian team got to play just 24
international matches in three tournaments and had one South
America tour.
In Janaury, they swept the four-test series against Chile
3-0 and drew 1-1 with Argentina in a three-test series.
There was no international match after that till June.
India toured South Africa for a four-nation tournament in June
where they lost their matches.
In the same month, India clinched the Champions Challenge
tournament, defeating Belgium 6-3 in Kazan.
With this victory, India qualified for Champions
Challenge I tournament which will take place in 2011 and the
winner of that tournament will take part in the 2012
Champions Trophy.
Again there was no international match till November when
India reached the final of Asia Cup in Bangkok.
They lost to China but reaching the final was enough to
book a berth in the 2010 World Cup.
PTI
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