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Match against China real test of our strength: Nasser
Rugby India captain Nasser Hussain considers Wednesday`s clash against China in the Asian5 Nations tournament as the real test of the team`s mettle and thinks players need to fire in unison to overpower their northern neighbour.
New Delhi: Rugby India captain Nasser Hussain
considers Wednesday`s clash against China in the Asian5 Nations
tournament as the real test of the team`s mettle and thinks
players need to fire in unison to overpower their northern
neighbour.
Fresh from a three-week exposure tour of New Zealand,
Nasser said the trip was specifically planned to prepare for
this championship.
"Tomorrow`s game is very crucial and we will stick to
what we have learnt during our tour to New Zealand. It`s a big
game between the two big countries and everyone in the team is
looking forward to it. It`s a real test of our mental and
physical fitness," Nasser told reporters.
"We have seen China grew better and better over the last
few years. It will be a great encounter and we are confident
of good showing. We will put forward a combined effort to
emerge victorious.”
"The trip to New Zealand was extremely eventful keeping
in
mind the championship. We were up against the best playing
team in the world. New Zealand is the top Rugby playing nation
and to visit the country and get hang of their sporting
culture was really great," Nasser said.
The 24-member Indian squad include some young guns who
will make their debut tomorrow, and the 26-year-old captain,
playing for India since 1998, said they will play a crucial
role in the two-day championship.
"There are couple of players who will make their debut in
this event, they include 16-year-old Jagga Singh, who is the
youngest member of the team. A lot depend on these people," he
said.
If India beat China and then win the final match against
either Philippines or Thailand, they will progress to the
Division-I for the first time.
"We are no longer pushovers. Players have worked hard on
their skills and trained with the best in the business. We
hope to upset teams in the upcoming championships," Nasser
added.
PTI
PTI