India takes on Belgium in their third and crucial match of the Olympic Qualifier at Kazan Field Hockey Centre.

Belgium and India have won a match and lost one, and thus the meeting is vital importance as to who would move to top two slots.

Coach Kaushik sounded confidence on the eve of the crucial match. Tight man to man marking and cautious attack will be the teams strategy, he made it clear.

Belgium is a balanced side with a good attack in the form of Sofie Gierts, and perhaps India’s Mamta Kharab will be given the onerous task of containing her.

Meanwhile, India suffered a set back of sort with the injury to a midfielder becoming serious. Gagandeep Singh won’t be playing rest of the tournament.

With Suman Bal

a not in nick of form, it will be nearly a task if the management finds someone to fill up the vacuum created by the sudden injury.

Talking to s2h, striker Surinder, playing with a headband to protect stiches, said: “We are not that bad as it appears. Its simply our shots are not effective, and we lacked a bit of luck. However, we will come alive against Belgium, because without a win here we cannot progress further in the tournament”.

Goalkeeper coach AB Subbaiah is over all satisfied with the goalkeeping here. “In the last two matches Dipikamurthy did well. Of the three goals we conceded in the last two matches, perhaps only one could have been saved. The other two are good goals, even the best of best would have done anything”, he said.

Jasjeet Kaur is firing all cylinders in the past two matches, and is becoming a match maker and winner. Mamta is doing her best, but could have done better. Both centre-halves are ordinary, leaving gaps in their area. Wing play is less, opening up of the space seems to be a gray area. Quick passes, controlled game, controlled pace are requirements, but the players seems to be dictated by their instinctive on the field and the systematic training seem to work only in little.

The girls are aware of the task ahead, and the significance of Tuesday’s match.

It is nice to see Richard Charlesworth is taking notes of all the matches, and rushing to dressing room in the halftime to provide his inputs to the coaching staff.