Times of India: Navjot, Deep, Inderpreet are assets to the team: Rani

NEW DELHI: India’s junior women’s hockey team captain Rani Rampal feels Navjot Kaur, Deep Grace Ekka and Inderpreet Kaur are assests to the side going into the seventh Junior Asia Cup to be held in Changzhou, China from September 5 to 13.

“The team and players are in good shape for the upcoming seventh AHF Junior Asian Cup. We have worked on various strategies during the ongoing preparatory camp and are working to implement them during the tournament. We have good players such as Navjot Kaur, Deep Grace Ekka and Inderpreet Kaur, who are assets to the team.

“Out aim is to reach the reach the final of the tournament,” Rani said.

The Indian junior eves are placed in Pool A alongside China, Malaysia, Singapore and DPR Korea. The team all set to depart next week for the tournament and will open its campaign against DPR Korea on the opening day of the tournament.

Indian women’s team chief coach Mathias Ahrens too is hopeful of a good showing from his wards in the tournament.

“We have a good team with good players who have the ability to give a good fight to any team. The seventh AHF Junior Asia Cup will be a tough competition as the best Asian teams like Japan, Korea and China will participate in this tournament.

“The preparatory camp has improved the skills and stamina of the players. The camp has given players enough time for their recovery as well as working on their mistakes. We are expecting a good show from the team and positive results,” Ahrens said.

The Junior Asia Cup is a qualification tournament for next year’s FIH Junior World Cup 2016.

A total nine teams will participate in this tournament.