Here you can read complete coverage of the 7th Women’s Asia Cup held in Bangkok in Oct-Nov 2009. All these reports were filed by this site editor K. Arumugam. Other than an official Media Officer, who is from India, this site editor was the lone Indian journalist to record the amazing run that India had in Bangkok.

Former Players predict good tournament for India at the Asia Cup

Former players and experts send out mixed signals as to India’s chances at the Women’s Asia Cup starting here tomorrow in Bangkok, Thailand. Stakes are high in the 8-Nation event as the winner qualifies for the 2010 World Cup.

An 18-member Indian team led by this year’s Arjuna awardee Surinder Kaur is already in Bangkok. India opens its campaign against Singapore in the opening day.

Olympian Col Balbir Singh, who as a selector witnessed the selection trials in Bhopal, rates India’s chances good and for that pins hopes on forwards. “With the kind of forwards we have, we should do well reasonably”, feels the former chief coach.

Balbir considers Asia Cup stronger competition than the Commonwealth Games and predict a tough competition in Bangkok.

“With Korea, China and Japan in the field, Asia Cup is tougher and fiercer competition than the Commonwealth Games. The team has a task on their hand, tough one at that but not unattainable”, he asserts.

Arjuna Award winner Sita Mehta, also a selector, concurs with Balbir. “We have been doing reasonably well in the recent past. The team has fresh legs and an enthusiastic lot. We are top favourite for the title, as our forwards are in form.”

“At the same time, we are poor in penalty corners, and it is an area of concern”, Sita, who played in the 1999 Asia Cup in Delhi, asserts. “I don’t think this team has any penalty corner expert or expertise”.

1982 Asian Games gold medalist Anurita Saini too sounds caution. The manager of the 2006 World Cup says, “ We are physically weaker and therefore have to be stronger in strategy. Kaushik is a veteran coach, I hope he understands what it takes to be a winning situation”.

Balbir and Sita are unanimous that our team’s weakness is defence. “Am not happy with our deep defence, they have to go that extra mile against strong teams”

Another unanimity among these former players is the evenness of the Asia Cup field. “The field is wide open with top four teams Korea, Japan, China and India can defeat each other in any given day.

Recollecting the past, Sita avers the fact that the difference between top four teams are thin. “We won the Cup in 2004 and Silver before that, losing the finals in extra time. But its Japan that is the defending Champion now”.

Legendary Rajbir Kaur, who led India to bronze at the 1993 Asia Cup, counts on the experience of captain Surinder Kaur, Mamta Kharab and Jasjeet Kaur. “They are good, they can cover up for other weak areas”.

Preview of opening match:

Kaushik wants good scoring against Singapore in the Opening match

National Women’s team coach MK Kaushik wants her wards to go in for high scoring in the Asia Cup opener tomorrow.

India takes on the lowly Singapore in the fourth and last match of the day at the Queen Sikrit University Sports Centre, where the 1998 Asian Games hockey event was held.

“Since China in our pool is a strong contender, a good goal aggregate will help us to choose the semifinal rivals” the coach, who led India to the gold at the 2004 Asia Cup, said.

“Since the finalists qualify for the 2010 World Cup, the semifinal line up is very important.”

Captain Surinder Kaur, who is on her fourth Asia Cup starting from 1999, concurs her coach. “We take the Singapore match seriously. We want to make a good beginning’

According to her, this soft opener is a godsend for the six junior girls in the team to get the feel of sterner matches, and also to try out penalty corner variations. There are six girls who played in this year’s Junior World Cup are in the current team.

“We tried new penalty corner patterns in the Bhopal camp. We will try them out tomorrow. Hopefully we will be success and this will go a long way in doing well in the tournament”.

Indian team reached here on Sunday.

India played a practice game against the defending champion Japan today in the practice pitch, laid adjacent to the main pitch, the lone goal of the match coming from captain herself.

Refusing to take the results seriously, Kaushik said, “This was a 40-minute match, second match for the Japanese after they played a short game with Malaysia. Neither side did not press, I don’t read much into the results”.

Kaushik is a bit relieved after the crucial India-China match had been shifted from pitch one to pitch two in a minor reshuffle of the schedule. “Pitch 2 is of practice turf variety, not fit for international matches. I am happy they shifted the match. We were actually thought of bringing this to the knowledge of the authorities, but luckily they have themselves realized it”.

India is in Group A along with China, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

It is third time Kaushik is coaching the women team for the prestigious Asia Cup, after 1993 and 2004. India won the bronze in 1993 and the title in the other.

Since Kaushik’s team won the Asian Games gold at the same city 11 years ago, will Bangkok will again be lucky for India?

When this was pointed out to him, Kaushik refused to be drowned in the memory saying, “So much has happened in that spell.

1998 then, 1908 Now

1998 and 1908 might looks 80 years apart, but the reverse order is a rare coincidence for women’s hockey coach MK Kaushik, who is here in Bangkok.

11 years ago in the same city his men’s team won the Asian Games gold. Now, as he prepares his girls for the Asia Cup, his room no in the official hotel, Rama Gardens Hotel, is 1908.

“Yes, the room No brings memory of those days when we won the Gold, but much has happened since then. It looks something of coincidence the good year we had in 1998 is getting reminded of now”.

So will this coincidence be the signal for another title win waiting to happen?

Hard work and field play can bring success, not merely room No. I don’t believe in this and nobody should in fact.

DAY 1
India-Singpore Match Report

India steamrolled novice Singapore 13-0 to open its Women’s Asia Cup campaign in style at the Queen Sikrit Sports Centre, Bangkok.

Jasjeet Kaur led the onslaught with three goals (39th, 53rd 59th minutes) while Saba Anjum, Mamta Kharab, Deepika Thakur, Surinder Kaur and Rani Ramphal accounted for two goals each.

Earlier, top contenders Japan and Korea routed Kazakshtan and Sri Lanka 10 -0 and 17-0, respectively. Malalysia also collected full points with a 3-0 win over the hosts, Thailand.

“We were a bit lazy in the first half, but the second half went off well. When a team defends in full strength in your area, this happens”, chief coach MK Kaushik said.

Winger Saba Anjum connected Jasjeet Kaur’s drag flick for India to open the scoring in the second minute off India’s second penalty corner. Captain Surinder Kaur enlarged the lead two minutes later from the next penalty corner. Her diving reverse, carpet deflection hit the right corner of the cage.

These two quick goals alerted Singapore who made life difficult for Indian forwards thereafter. Their packed defence gave no leeway for strikers Jasjeet, Saba Anjum and Surinder Kaur to do their scoring act. Singaporeans, coached by the Spain import Juan Manuel Mas, conceded 15 penalty corners in the first session alone. India wasted most of them due to poor technique. Rani Ramphal (19th min), Mamta (23rd min) and Deepika at the storke of lemon time scored a goal before the teams retired for break.

India led 5-0 at half time.

Indian forwards made amends in the second half for their first half lax, with renewed vigour and energy. Goals came in numbers through open play itself. Jasjeet connected a cross from right for India’s 6th goal while lanky Rani Ramphal unleashed a deft flick from close range to make it 7-0 in the 41st minute. Next minute, Sabu came from the wing connect a pass from the midfield.

With rout in their mind, the tired and clueless Singapore throw away the towel thereafter. Availing the freedom, Indian forwards opened up the wings to earn a field day to notch up a heartwarming 13-0 victory.

“Most of the times, I feel, we did not play well in the first half especially the forwards, we were in a hurry. Once we adopted to one touch pass as we did in the second half, we got the rewards”, captain Surinder Kaur summed up the day’s proceeding.

India in all got a whopping 24 penalty corners today and converted 7.

“Not a bad record, as we did not want to exhaust all the variations we have, for the fear of exposure”, Kaushik reasoned.

Tomorrow is rest day for India. On Thursday it will engage the hosts for its second win.

Earlier, the Asian bigwigs and last edition finalists Japan and Korea sent out a sound warning to rivals with impressive wins. Facing the soft openers one would ask for, Japan pounded Kazakshan 10-0 while Korea showed no mercy in routing Sri Lanka to a 17-0 defeat. Their Penalty corner expert, Seul Ki Cheon amassed as many as 9 goals from her known set piece prowess. In the first half, she converted 5 of the 7 penalty corners.

Japan’s ever-green defender Keiko Miura set the tune for free flow of goals against Kazaks with immaculate conversion of first two penalty corners in the 2nd and 5th minutes. Forward Mie Nakashima picked it up from there to score a hat-trick (6th, 34th 55th). Mazuki Arai accounted for a brace while Ai Muratrmi, Miyuki Nakagawa and Rika Komozawa entered the scoreboard with a goal apiece.

DAY 2

Kaushik: Traditional weaknesses have to go

Indian chief coach MK Kaushik wants the Indian girls to shed some of the traditionally carried over mistakes to achieve higher laurels in the international areas. He advocates adoption of uniform coaching strategy at all levels, intensive training and having a strong second stream team to get rid of the bugbear.

“If our girls need to harness their true potential, some of the weak areas they carry over by default and over a long period have to go”, MK Kaushik said.

“My concern is not just doing well here and there, in one tournament or the other. I envision a sustainable strategy so that our teams play to potential in top level tournaments. To reach there, which is possible, players have to be more serious than they are now and will be willing to unlearn the bad habits”.

Despite India winning Singapore 13-0 in the opener the other day, coach was not satisfied. India will take on Thailand tomorrow.

According to him, the problems one confronts in coaching national team are manifold, with a result that some traditional weak areas with individual players and with the team refuse to go away.

“Our social ethos is that we are easily satisfied. This reflects in sporting field as well. Our girls are happy with a double digit score against weak teams. Socially speaking, setting high sporting targets once they land in job is not working the way we all would have liked”.

Kaushik, who have been working with women in different spells, shared his thoughts with PTI on the rest day today in Bangkok.

“Our training, for instance, is to play attacking defence. It is practiced to near perfection in the camps. But on pressure situations, girls tend to forget what they learnt in the training, start chasing the attackers till things becomes desparate. Almost all players piced up such a habit of ball watching in domestic circuit”.

One dwelling on the reasons, he feels the problem lies in our system. “There is no uniformity in coaching concept. We have limited areas which produces players. After the centralized camps, girls go back there and follow another pattern there. These centres prime concern is domestic competitions. Our domestic competitions are not international standard and so also their mode of preparations”.

On specifically asked whether in camps times are spent in rectifying mistakes of players rather than perfecting techniques, he said that it is not the case. Yet he added, “if pushing and stopping, for instance, is perfect then I can go for perfecting various PC combinations. If we have to teach pushing and stopping, then the process is going to be long”.

Kaushik believes grooming of second string team is indispensable. We don’t have a strong second stream team, this infuses casualness among the settled players, won’t it?

He feels the players will be motivated to perform better if a couple of juniors are thirsting to snatch their spot.

Is the future bad despite so many camps and tournaments? Kaushik however interpreted it in a different way. “No. It depends on our target. If we aim regional level then we are definitely improving. If we set bigger target for ourselves, we have to be more professional and serious”.

DAY 3
India-Thailand Match Report

India defeat Thailand 15-0

Indian women took another confident step towards Asia Cup semifinal with a sterling 15-0 win over the hosts Thailand today at the Queen Sikrit Sports Centre, Bangkok.

With six points in two matches, India is a win away from taking its appointed place in the knock out stage. India has to now beat either Malaysia or China in the 5-team Group in the next four days to be in the semis.

After two days rest India will play China on Tuesday and Malaysia on Wednesday when the picture will emerge clear.

As Malaysia is placed 10 rungs below in the world ranking to India’s 14th, Surinder Kaur’s team is expected to sail through them on Wednesday notwithstanding earlier China-India encounter.

Shahbad’s youngster Rani Ramphal won the hearts of sparse but appreciating crowd with her dazzling display of talent. With opportunism and deft stickwork, she scored six goals, four in the second half, some of them veritable spectators delight.

Veterans Mamta Kharab and Saba Anjum accounted for three goals each. With a goal in their kitty, Ritu Rani, Monika Bardan and captain Surinder Kaur too entered their names in the scoreboard.

Earlier, defending champions Japan crushed hapless Sri Lanka 20-0 to record the day’s largest margin win, while Korea outwitted Hong Kong 10-0, after leading 6-0 at half time. China, playing its first match in the competition, played leisurely to walk away with 13-0 win over Singapore.

Scoring timely goals, veteran Mamta Kharab set the stage right for India’s fabulous victory over Thailand. Picking up the gauntlet from her senior partner, Rani Ramphal availed the porous defence to post a whopping six goals. Having already scored a brace the other day, here goals tally is eight, three short Korea’s Seul Ki Cheon.

Rustic India struggled midway through in the first half after taking the lead in the 11th minute through Ritu Rani. Mamta showed her class to retrieve India from slumber with a deft drive off India’s fourth penalty corner, after Jasjeet Kaur sold dummy, to break the deadlock. She scored a brace early in the second half as well, which opened the Indian floodgates.

Despite rustic game, India led 6-0 at half time

Kaushik introduced fresh legs in the second half and gave chance to the young lot like s Sunila Kiro, Mukta Barla, Vartika and Moika Bardan. This helped the likes of Rani to go on rampage.

“Fielding youngsters is worth doing, though we would have liked to score 20 goals and thus put the Chinese under pressure. Over all, yes, am happy, chief coach MK Kaushik said.

Now our focus is towards China encounter on Tuesday. We have two days rest to recoup and regroup” he added.

India started cautiously. After wasting two penalty corners, Ritu Rani broke the deadlock in the 11th minute. After Binita Toppo’s straight drive off the third penalty corner hit the umpire, Rani bounced on the rebound for India’s first goal.

Ritu Rani passed selflessly to waiting winger Saba Anjum who scooped the ball over the head of rival goalie Jesadaporn Tongsun in the 28th minute for the team’s third goal. Rani Ramphal, who replaced here captain Surinder Kaur, scored a brace of goals before lemon time. Both her goals were gentle taps after goalie had been completely beaten and the goalmouth was open.

Thailand showed enormous gumption to hold on the rampaging Indians, even stretching their defence to limits, for the next 15 minutes. Veteran Mamta Kharab’s goal in the 24th minute rekindled the Indian forwards to mean business.

DAY 4A

Saba Anjum scores India’s 100th goal at the Asia Cup

Indian winger Saba Anjum relishes an unexpected achievement that came here way on the opening day of the ongoing 7th Women’s Asia Cup here in Bangkok, Thailand.

Her first goal in the Indian opener here against Singapore was India’s one hundredth goal collectively in six editions of the Asia Cup that India have participated.

When this feat was brought to her notice, Sab Anjum was caught unawares and had to merely say, “Good to hear this”.

Indian girls have taken part in all but the Inaugural Asia Cup, and have collectively scored 99 goals in 25 matches before the start of the Bangkok edition.

Hence it was keenly waited here as to who will score the first goal. This honour went to Chhatisgarh’s Saba Anjum when she deflected the rebound of Jasjeet Kaur’s penalty corner in the second minute of their first match.

Expressing surprise over such kind of statistics are available in hockey, Chief Kaushik responded: “I thought only cricket has such kind of information. We are not good at having statistics, am happy to hear this. Saba in any case deserves some sort of recognition for her game. She was at her best at Kazan where we won the Champions Challenge II recently.

Former India goalkeeper Neeta Dumre, who is here as Technical Officer, expressed the view that hockey players achievement needs to be highlighted. “Saba hails from Durg area, where lot girls including from Muslim community are traditionally taking up hockey”.

Saba, now is employed with Indian Railways, was the youngest of the gold wining 2002 Commonwealth Games Indian team.

Though India participated in five Asia Cups, goals were hard to come by. Mere 4 goals in the 1989 edition, 8 in 1993 and 24 in and 1999 in 19 and 2004. India goals tally went up with the last edition in Hong Kong when it amassed 40 goals in five matches. The trend continues here also. The girls have already collected 28 goals in two matches.

Day 4 b
Japan and Korea reach the semis

With straight three victories Japan and South Korea made it to the semifinals of the Women’s Asia Cup from Group B. On a day when there was no let up in the top team’s majestic victories over hapless rivals, Japan defeated Chinese Taipei 7-0 while Korea thrashed Kazakhstan 15-0 at Queen Sikirt Sports Centre, at Bangkok in Thailand.

Top ranked China struggled throughout but managed to overcome Malaysia 4-0 in the other Group. Its China’s second win after mauling Singapore 13-0 yesterday. So dominant were these three powerhouses of Asian hockey that they are yet to concede a goal even the tournament is midway through.

The crucial China-India encounter is billed for Tuesday when the competition resumes after a break tomorrow. India had no fixture today.

On Sunday, despite playing leisurely top seeded China and the defending champions Japan garnered full points while twice title holders Koreans showed no mercy towards Kazakhstan who returns to Asia Cup after missing the previous two editions.

Energetic Malaysia held the usually rampaging Chinese forwards on check till half time giving away just a token goal before conceding three goals in the next half.

Japan played its bench strength today against Chinese Taipei as was the case with China earlier against Malaysia. Except tested striker Keiko Miura, who scored a brace, five other forwards scored a goal apiece. Japan led Chinese Taipei 3-0.

Koreans bench strength was so formidable that they had the luxury of resting their penalty corner ace Seul Ki Cheon — who scored a record 9 goal on the opening day – still were able to post 15 goals. Jong Eun Kim filled in the shoes of her illustrious senior with 6 goals in the one-sided match.

As if to conserve the energy for the India encounter, the Chinese coached by the Korean Kim sam Ryul, did not show any urgency to score against the Malaysians. Temperature hovering around 33 degree Celsius, it was hard for both teams. However, the scoreboard did not justice to the Malaysians who strove hard not to give any leeway to the Chinese forwards who relied much on recalled star Fu Ba Rong for goals. Only at the end of the proceedings, the Malaysian citadel fell, China scoring in the 62nd and 70th minutes through the blades of Li Hong Xia and De Jiao Jiao.

Sure of their victory, today’s winners Japan, Korea and China took the calculated risk of fielding their bench. Each time a goal was scored, the Chinese coach substituted four players. China and Korea had separate goalkeeper for each half.

In another matches of the day, the hosts Thailand lost to Singapore 0-1 while Hong Kong over come stiff resistance of Sri Lanka with a flattering 3-0 win.

Korea’s Seul Ki Cheon leads the scorers’ list with 11 goals followed by her team mate Jong Eun Kim (10 goals). Keiko Miura (Japan) with 9 goals is third in the rank a goal ahead of India’s Rani Rampal.

Tomorrow is rest day.

DAY 5

India-China match preview

China throws formidable challenge to India

With sparkling stars in its arsenal and unenviable history on its side, Asian Games champions China throws a formidable challenge for India as the two teams are all set to face off tomorrow in their third match of the 7th Women’s Asia Cup in Bangkok.

Having already won both their matches, India and China are expected to go all out for outright win, even though a draw would suffice either team’s immediate target of reaching the Friday’s semifinal.

“A victory at this stage will boost our morale”, Indian coach MK Kaushik said.

With Asia’s top rated coaches on either side, a rich strategic and mind games too wait for the small but faithful crowd that braves distance to turn up every day here at the Queen Sikirt Sports Centre.

Since taking over the Chinese girls from his Korean coach Kim Chang Back in June this year, the Asian Hockey Federation’s Life Time Coaching Award winner Kim Sam Ryul faces India’s celebrated and ‘Dronacharya’ awardee MK Kaushik for the first time on the rival side.

When these two famed coaches came on face to face on the field was during the 1998 Asia Games where the Indian coach emerged successful. Eleven summers ago, in the same city and on the same turf, Kaushik’s team defeated Ryul’s Korea via tie-breaker in the tense men’s final for its first Asiad Gold in 36 years.

Expectedly, Kaushik is reluctant to relive in that Bangkok glory as he is aware of the disparity between men and women teams. With a silver at the last Olympics, Chinese women are parked at third, clear 11 rungs above India’s in the FIH world ranking ladder.

While China is in the elite company in such world meets as the Olympics, World Cup and Champions Trophy, Indians are walloping at World Level III circuit like Champions Challenge II. Expectedly, India hardly defeated China in the history of Asia Cup, registering just two draws in six encounters.

China handed out India a polite 4-2 defeat in the bronze medal play off in the previous Asia Cup.

China’s strength, besides the loads of experience, is hard-working trio of striker Fu Bo Rong, 31, (182 caps), captain and defender 29-year old Ma Yibo (144 caps) and the midfield maestro Li Hua Gao, 29, (144 caps). They man each layer with immaculate precision. Goalie Zhang Yi Meng is no patch of legendary Nie Ya Li whom she succeeded, but coach Ryul considers her the best in China. Her prowess is hardly tested here so far.

On the other hand, India’s weakness is exactly the goalkeeping. “We have to improve in this area. We have however taken a cautious decision to field different goalkeeper for each half in order groom both of them” said coach Kaushik.

Another worry for Kaushik could well be China’s strike force, with already 10 players carving their names on the scoreboard, marking strikers will be a tough task. Indian defenders Subhadra Pradhan and Binita Toppo should raise their level to another plank to measure up to the Chinese attackline spearheaded by four times FIH Player of the Year nominee, Fu Bo Rong.

China however appears rustic here. Though won Singapore 13-0, it had to be content with just four goals against Malaysia while India posted more than a dozen goals in each of its encounters.

Ryul attributes team’s rustiness to recent National Games. “Our National Games, in which 12 provinces took part, was over only on October 15. Then the players went for a break. We had only two days training before we left for Bangkok”, Ryul said.

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DAY 6

India-China Match Report

Creditable draw for India

With solid defence and excellent midfield control, Indian women drew highly rated China 1-1, ensuring virtual entry into the semifinals of the 7th Women’s Asia Cup in Bangkok.

Liao Jia Hui put India ahead in the 18th minute through her team’s first penalty corner. India replied in the same manner, converting a penalty corner 27 minutes later to settle for the honourable draw. Hardworking winger Saba Anjum scored India’s equalizer.

With identical two victories and a draw both China and India have seven points in Group A, while Malaysia has a theoretical chance of entering the semis as it is yet to play two matches in the 5-team Group A. Malaysia plays Singapore later today and India tomorrow.

“We were lucky. India played exceedingly well. Though am satisfied with the result, considering we are World No 3, we could have fared better. My forwards were not fast enough”, Korean coach Kim Sam Ryul said.

Indian coach MK Kaushik was a bit disappointed when he said, “We could have won, as we have definitely played better than China”.

Giving good marks to defence, Captain Surinder Kaur said, “Our defence was very good today, it was not the same with our forwards. We could have scored more goals, we had enough chances”.

India came very close to break of jinx of not defeating China in the annals of Asia Cup, but it let the chance go.

“Some of my players need to be more confident of themselves”, Kaushik opined when asked why India has not won the match despite domination especially in the second half.

On an overcast day, Indian girls made their intentions clear early in the match with aggressive style. The Chinese were forced to be on back foot, but some wayward shooting led India down. Usually alert Jasjeet Kaur and Rani Ramphal were off colour, the former missing to connect twice against the open goal.

With veteran Asunta Lakra shining in the midfield, the Chinese were forced to operate through the flanks. Mamta Kharab, Deepika Thakur, playing down the field, kept the Chinese forwards in check. Second half goalkeeper Savita too came on her form, blocking almost sure goals. Ma Wei’s shot that she kicked midway in the second half was a champion’s stuff of which the youngster is made of.

Earlier, after managing to thwart India’s first ten minutes of attacking play, China converted its first penalty corner to post the winner in style.

China scored its first goal in the 18th minute through in a cool- headed penalty corner variation in the 18th minute. Even as the push was slow, captain Ma Yibo went ahead to receive the ball, and sent it the right corner of the goal cage, where waiting Sun Zeng made a parallel pass to Liao Jia Hui. Liao coolly swept the ball to the right of otherwise alert Indian goalie Deepika Murthy.

After lemon time, India got a reward for all the toil they put up in pepping up the attack.
In an indirect penalty corner variation, Saba Anjum collected the rebound off the Chinese Goalie Zhang Yi Meng and effected a stunning reverse shot which hit the side netting much to the relief of the entire team. Excited Saba threw her arms open to celebrate the much needed goal.

Both teams were loathe in the area of penalty corners. India got one less than China’s 5, but both had difficulty in set piece drills, even the pushed ball misdirected.

“This ground is extremely bumpy”, is what the Chinese coach Kim offered as reason for his team’s poor penalty corner drills.

DAY 6

Group toppers to be decided today

Will Korea and China score more to top their pools?

The semifinal line up is almost certain. India and China from Group A and Korea and Japan from the other pool will move to medal round.

The question that arises uppermost in the minds today is who will top the pool to choose relatively weaker rival in the semis.

After three matches, India leads Pool A with seven points and +28 goal difference (GD). China is second in the pool with seven points, and +17 goal average. India takes on Malaysia while China will lock horns against relatively week Thailand. If China can score heavily, which is a possibility, it can pip India to second spot on goal average.

Indian forwards therefore will have a tough job on hand. If they can have a goal difference of say 6 in today’s match, Korea has to score at least 18 goals against Thailand to top the pool, as they are now 11 goals behind India’s goal difference of +28. India will have time at their disposal as to know how many goals they need to score to top the pool, because they play after China’s match.

The situation in the other pool is similar, though the gulf in the goal difference is not as big in Group A. Korea has +5 GD against Japan. Korea will play Chinese Taipei before Japan takes on Hong Kong. As both Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong are weak teams, the today’s matches will decide the pool topper here.

Though the semifinalists are known, one has to wait long today before knowing the line up.

A stubborn Malaysia can upset India and pip it to second spot unless China too struggles against Thailand, which is unlikely.

However, China’s Korean coach Kim Sam Ryul has said that they have come here to win the title, so question of having or choosing a team of their choice in the semifinals does not arise.

“We have to win both semis and finals, who ever our rivals are”, Kim said matter of fact-ly.

It is interesting to know the suspense is still there in an otherwise dull tournament where things so far went the predicted way.

DAY 7

India-Malaysia Match Report

India struggles against Malaysia, match drawn

India will meet South Korea in the semifinals of the Women’s Asia Cup after it drew Malaysia 1-1 in its last pool match.

When India met ever-improving Malaysia today at the Queen Sikirt Sports Centre in Bangkok, all it needed was a draw to reach the semifinals which it got with a hard fought 1-1 result.

Defender Binita scored the equalizer in the 27th minute after Juliani Mohamad Din surprised India with an early goal in the 4th minute.

Earlier, undefeated Korea thrashed hapless Chinese Taipei 15-0 for its fourth win to top the Group B ahead of Japan. With 4 wins and a draw both Japan and Korea had 13 points each, but Korea had a plus 57 goal difference against the last edition finalist Japan’s plus 46.

Hithterto undefeated India made mess of its last pool match despite territorial domination. Indians had no clue as to break the crowded defence perfected by the Malaysians. Their goalie Farah Ayuni Yahya proved to be a hard nut to crack all through the seventy minutes of play.

The result must have endeared the visiting dignitary Raja Sultan Azan Shah, Malaysian president of the Asian Hockey Federation, who witnessed the match today.

Indian domination can be gauged by the mere fact that they got 4 penalty corners in each half while their rival got just one and made use of it to put India on the backfoot.

Malaysian striker Juliani Mohamad Din stole the show early with an immaculate penalty corner conversion in the 4th minute much against the run of play. Indians took long time to awake before finding it reply.

Agile Deepika Thakur did the spade work for India’s fourth penalty corner of which Binita Topp unleashed a carpet drive for the equalizer . The teams went for the lemon time sharing two goals.

India today made its foray into the semis a messy affair due to wayward shooting and unnecessary panic. Both Jajeet Kaur and substitute forward Mukta Barla missed a couple of sitters in the second half. Barla had the open goal in the 64th minute, but the ball out side the net from the arm’s distance.

Coach Kaushik was not happy with the result and castigated his forwards for not raising to the occasion.

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“We gave the advantage to our rivals. We certainly lost the advantage. My forwards positing was wrong. We know the Malaysians will defend heavily, and go for occasional run downs. They did this exactly and got the results. Their shifting was perfect. We could have gone for rebounds which we did not”.

For the record it is first time Malaysia drew India in the annals of the Asia Cup.

Indians wanted to engage off-colour Japan in the semis and for that they needed an outright win today. Finally, India made mess of its match today heaving a relief when it drew the Malaysians. Captain Surinder Kaur, despite talking to media in the press room could not give any worthy comment. “We should have won, but we did not, she just said repeatedly.

Kaushik expects more professionalism from his players. He said, “They have to prepare themselves for the big matches and it is an attitude issue”

DAY 8

Anupama umpires her 50th match

The Bangalore based umpire achieved the landmark here in the seventh Women’s Asia Cup when officiated in the match between Sri Lanka and Chinese Taipei on Tuesday.

Asia Cup Tournament Director Shin Jung Hee of South Korea presented her a bouquet to mark the occasion before the Sri Lanka Chinese Taipei match commenced.

Anupama started her international umpiring career in Japan in 2004 with an invitation to officiate in a 4-Nation tournament. Since then she has officiated in 17 international tournaments including Commonwealth Games, Caribbean Games and Youth Olympics. She has widely traveled to cover events in Asia, Africa, America and European continents. Her career highlights includes many finals including three in this year alone. The finals she officiated this year are Sydney Youth Olympic Games, Spar Cup in South Africa and Junior Asia Cup, Malaysia.

Expressing happiness, Anupa thanked her family and friends who encouraged her to take up this profession. “Am happy I chose this profession”, she said.

Encouraged by the progress she made in the umpiring field, she set herself a distant target.

“This motivates to me to focus more on the job. I will be happy if one day I get to officiate in the Olympics”, Anupama said.

DAY 8A

India-Korea Semifinal Preview:

Day of reckoning for India

The Indians ladies have to pull up their socks against Korea in the semifinals of the Asia Cup today if they want to avail twin advantage of making it to the finals and also to gain direct entry for the next year’s World Cup.

Finalists of the Asia Cup directly qualify for the 2010 Rosario (Argentina) World Cup.

As the two undefeated teams lock horns on Friday, much is at stake for both the teams. While Korea would like to revive its dwindling fortunes — Korea is at its lowest world ranking at 10 – it is a chance for India to revenge its semis loss (2-5) to the same rival in the previous Asia Cup in Hong Kong.

India need not worry of the Hong Kong nightmare beyond a point, as the present Korean team is younger and inexperienced, with as many as 10 members have either been dropped or retired since then.

“We have defeated Korea in the Doha Asian Games. We hope to repeat the same”, said senior member of the team Mamta Kharab.

Mamata knows the Koreans better as she scored the winner in the bronze medal play off in Doha and also both the Indians goals at Hong Kong against them.

Koreans are inexperienced, but make it up with precision shooting in the circle. Korea amassed 59 goals in five matches, maximum for any team here.

Al most everyone in the Korean team scores, as 13 of its players figure in the scorers list with two of its strikers, Seul Ki Cheon and Jong Eun Kim, topping the list with 12 goals each.

On the other hand, Indian forwards, are inconsistent and inaccurate. They are needlessly elaborative inside the circle and loathe in latching on to the rebounds. As a result, it struggled against which crowded its defence to blunt the Indian attacks.

With the likes of Sun Soo Oh, Sena Cha, So Ra Mi and Seul Ki Cheon manning the defence phalanx, it will be difficult for India too make circle entries against Korea, and those chances need to be utilized.

While agreeing scoring will be difficult against Korea, Mamta feels there are other areas of concern as well.

“Korea’s strength is penalty corner. We should avoid giving them many, for that we should tackle them beyond the circle to the extent possible”, Mama outlined the strategy for tomorrow.

Inconsistency is the another factor that India should overcome to attain fruitful results against Korea. After sterling display against highly rated China on Tuesday, India played below bar against Malaysia on the next day.

We have so far played all out game, but against Korea it will be different, we will be cautious, said chief coach Kaushik.

Historically, Korea have always been a thorn in the flesh of India, handing out heavy defeats in the Asian Games and Asia Cup arenas.

Faster, fitter and precise in scoring, Koreans have been reigning hegemony over India in the last two decades. Only occasion the Koreans lost to India (0-5) in the New Delhi Asia Cup was in 2004 when their second string participated. The main team of Korea was then in Auckland preparing for the Olympic Qualifier which was held a week after the Delhi event.

However, the Koreans here are younger lot, having collective caps less than India. Only one of its players Mihyun Park has crossed the one hundredth mark. At least half a dozen Indian players have already figured in more than one hundred matches.

If India avails its experience in right measure, and makes use of the upfront forays, gives away less penalty corner, India can make a match of it today.

DAY 9

India-Korea Semifinal Match Report

India books world cup berth at the cost of Korea

With brace of goals, Jasjeet Kaur took India to the Asia Cup finals here in the Queen Sikirit sports Centre. Free-flowing India outwitted Korea 3-2 in the semifinals.

After missing a one to one situation, Saba earned India’s first penalty corner of which Jasjeet Kaur unleashed powerful drag flick to put India ahead in the 8th minutes.

Jasjeet against scored peach of a goal early in the second half to give India an unassailable lead. Rani Ramphal later latched on to a midfield pass to score an athletic goal which put the Korean on mat.

With this hard-fought win India Deservedly qualifies for the 2010 World Cup as well.

After India took a 3-0 lead in the 55th minutes, Korea came out with a brace to make a match of it. It even got two penalty corner at the stroke of hooter, but gritty Indian defence managed those agonizing moments with aplomb.

Midway through first half, Saba and Surinder set up Rani Ramphal only to see her effecting a feeble shot.

With fox a mind and legs of gazelle, Saba mounted a counter attack in the 11th minutes, but Rani Ramphals’s sliding shot was well anticipated by the rival goalie Young Hui Moon.

Korean right flank made a great move in the 21st minute, latching onto a loose ball, but alert Ritu and Subhadra Pradhan retrieved the situation on the goalline.

With neat interception and tight marking, India dominated the first half except a brief spell midway through. Korea earned got three penalty corners in succession in this spell , but the usually sharp Seul Ki Cheon was rendered redundant by the Indian defence. Goalie Deepkia Murthy stopped two rebounds and the other one was saved on the line by alert Ritu.

Close on the first half, Mihyun park surged inside the circle, showing clear pair of heels to Indian defence, but she lost control from close range. India survived a scare at that point of time to change over the side with a goal advantage in its kitty.

Koreans moved like a machine after conceding three goals, and in the 15 minutes they trailed they showed their class, putting Indian defence under severe strain. Egged on by a 20-strong Indian embassy staff, girls controlled the times to emerge victorious.

Proud captain Surinder Kaur will be playing here third Asia Cup final as she figured in 1999 and 2004 as well.

Earlier, right winger Zhou Yu Diao led China to semifinal victory over jaded Japan with a solitary goal. Tenacious China hung on to the lead till the hooter and earned the berth in the Sunday final. After braving Japan’s initial thrusts, China surged ahead in the 27th minute. Fed by Fu Bao Rong, right winger Zhou Yu Diao left Japan’s goalie Yoshikawa Yuka gasping for breadth with a reverse shot that found the net. China changed over the sides with this goal advantage. Dominating the session, China troubled the Japanese defence to no end, but could not force a goal. Four out of six penalty corners too were frittered away by the eventual winner.

Surinder and Kaushik’s comment on the semifinal success

Indian Women’s hockey captain Surinder Kaur attributed India’s semifinal victory over Korea to team work and hard-training.

“It’s fruit of our hard training” Surinder Kaur said shortly after India outplayed Korea in the semis here in Bangkok to enter the Asia Cup finals.

Accordingly to her the success is due to team work and every member has put their best foot forward for this sterling victory.

“Korea is a strong team, we expected each player to give their best and understand their responsibility. Unless everybody measure up to their role, we cannot achieve success. Today every one of us in the team delivered”, beaming Surinder added.

“We had trained for this match for a long time, and could apply those in the match. Am happy we could send India a good name from here”, said Surinder, who will be playing her third Asia cup finals here on Sunday.

The captain appreciated the forwards for coming up with goals. When asked India getting just one penalty corner against 8 by the Koreans, she said, “We were getting goals through open play”.

Mamta Kharab, senior member of the team, who was part of the previous three Asia Cup campaigns, too credited the whole team for the success. “ It is good sign, as all the junior players too did their best today”, she said.

“It is 100 percent from everybody in the team”, Mamta who scored the golden goal in the 2002 Commonwealth games, added.

India was under intense pressure after taking 3-0 lead till the 55th minute. It is full mark for the defence to stand up to the challenge posed by the tactically superior Korea.

“When were under the pressure in the last quarter, we tried our level best to release the pressure. We did not give up, though we felt the strain” Mamata relived the final moments in which Korea got two penalty corners.

The team spent two hour video session a day earlier in preparing strategy for the semis, and spent another session on discussion yesterday night.

“As a team, we have now understood how much video analysis is important. We could make out our mistakes and the rivals’ which helps us to plan better on the field”, Mamta said.

Chief coach Kaushik was extremely happy on the outcome today. “I am all the more happy because the team almost translated 80 percent of instructions on the field”, he said speaking to PTI after the match.

Incidentally, Kaushik was the coach when India last played the Asia Cup finals in New Delhi in 2009 which ensured India’s participation in the Madrid Women’s World Cup.

DAY 10 A

Hockey community all praise for aggressive Indian style

Hockey community in Bangkok is all praise for Indian teams that defeated Korea 3-2 in a nail baiting semifinals of the Asia Cup here on Thursday.

“I liked the attacking style of India. People tended to become defensive with the introduction of synthetic turf. Your (Indian) players showed attacking also pays’ said Fumio Ogura of Japan, treasurer of the Asia Hockey Federation (AHF).

Ogura, Tournament Director for the Chennai Chief Minister Cup held in the late 90s, was particularly happy to see so many goals coming in open play.

“The third (Indian) goal was fantastic, even boys won’t be able to score that way” he said.

When informed Rani Ramphal who scored from almost zero angle on her solo — which turned out to be the match winner – is only 19-year old, Ogura predicted a bright future for her. “I think she is a long term material, will be there in hockey for long time”

“She has a bright future”, he hastened to add.

R. Viswanathan, Vice-president of the Sri Lankan Association, also appreciated Indian girls. “It was a fantastic match, my compliments to the team”.

“I really feel your coach has done a wonderful job”, he added.

While wishing the team success, Brig. R. Musarrat-Ullah Khan of Pakistan, AHF Executive Committee member, said, “I saw India winning the gold in Manchester (Commonwealth Games). I think they still kept up the tempo”

Pakistan’s double Olympian Tahir Zaman liked the Indian women’s aggressive attitude from the beginning.
“They went for the attack from the beginning. They kept up that tempo for long.

The former coach of the Azerbaijan women’s team held Indian defence and goal keeper Deepika Murthy in high esteem.

“Your goalkeeper and defence was really good, when Korea came alive in the last 15 minutes or so they stood up to the task”.

“As a coach, my Azerbaijan team played India many times, we together practiced at Doha as well. So, I had watched them keenly in the recent times. They are improving. However, I feel there is a need for players to be more agile, acquire better explosive power, that is again question of fitness”, Tahir, former Pakistan men’s team captain, said

The ultimate words of acclaim came from the horse mouth itself, when Sun Jong Kim, Sr. vice-president of Korean Hockey Federation said, “India played like a champion, you deserved to go to World Cup, not we. You should win this championship as well, your girls were very good the other day”.

SECOND STORY

Final’s Preview: Rich fare awaits, as the giants vie for top honours

Rich fair awaits sports lovers as two undefeated teams India and China lock horns in the finals of the 7th Women’s Asia Cup here on Sunday.

Indian team wants to cap the dream run it had in this tournament with the title win against the much revered rival.

“After defeating Korea which is better team than China, we are confident of good result in the final” feels Dipika Murthy, goalkeeper of the Indian team.

India takes on world no 3 team China in the finals of the 7th Women’s Asia Cup on Sunday evening here in the Queen Sikirt Sports centre.

“We were not sure of playing that well against China in the league. The draw (1-1) has given us enormous confidence. Now that we won Korea, our morale is very high”, Dipkia said after the team’s warm up session in the lawns of team’s hotel, Rama Gardens.

“If we can win Korea, we can win China also”, she said matter-of-factly

Confident Dipika played full time against Korea on Thursday in the semis and came out with colours when the losing rival was attacking in numbers in the last quarter.

China has been outstanding in all departments of the game, especially with penalty corners here in Bangkok. Indian team has to match them in every area if it wants to obtain the crowning glory here.

“Their fullback Ma Yi Bo is good at penalty corners, but their forwards are hungry inside the circle. Not just goalkeeping, but whole defence has to combine well, and am sure we will”, she said.

This is Dipika’s first Asia Cup finals after she missed the last Asia cup due to groin pull.
I will take up this match as my last match, and do my best, and I feel everyone in the team also think like this”,

She feels the team in ship shape, and with the world cup qualification already in the kitty, there is no pressure now for the results and this setting is ideal to relish.

“We are definitely not under pressure. If the team is under pressure, even normal things you do go haywire. This team understands this. We will be cool and keep stable mind tomorrow”, she summed up the team’s mood on the eve of the all important final.

“You are always tested when played against strong teams, we are ready to face the best in the Asia, China”, the bold goalie said.

Meanwhile, chief coach MK Kaushik made it clear to his wards that India should not settle for nothing less than Gold.

“Our girls are talented, they deserved the ultimate honour here. I have asked them to go all out”, the successful coach said.

“China is tactically strong, they can trouble us. Unless my girls give one hundred percent, we can’t come out winners. My players will deliver, I believe in their caliber, Kaushik felt.

Kaushik advises his wards to be vigilant against counter attacks and not to give away penalty corners.

“China is good at counter attacks, forwards are opportunitics and good inside the circle, Therefore, we have to be cautious, if we can, then nothing can stop us from getting the gold”, Kaushik, who led India to Asia Cup success in 2004, said.

Nobody carries any injury, team is on optimum fitness We managed the hydration part well”, Dr. Vikas Dhawan, physio of the team.

Team trainer Dr. R. Gandhi also feels the team is peaking at the set level.

Having won the prestigious Cup only once, India in 2004 and China in 1989, both teams are expected to go for the kill on Sunday.

DAY 11

India wins the Silver, China the ultimate honour

Valiant India had to contend with silver as it went down 3-5 to China in the finals of the 7th Women’s Asia Cup here.

Undaunted by the India’s early lead, Chinese scored thrice in the first half and two in the next to annex the prestigious continental crown exactly after twenty years. China won their maiden Asia Cup in 1989 in Hong Kong.

Captain Surinder Kaur latched on to a left flank feed by Mamta Kharab and unleashed a whiplash of a forehand shot to give India the lead in the 8th minute. Mamta Kharab (47th) and Deepika Thakur (54th) scored apiece in the second half. But the precise Chinese matched India’s every goal and came with their own to outscore. The Chinese goals came in regular intervals..

Chinese scored thrice in the first session (13th, 18th and 27th) and twice (47 and 51st minutes) in the next to emerge victorious.

India took the initiative early in the match, with Surinder’s 8th minute goal. But the Indians joy survived only five minutes as the Chinese changed to top gear thereafter, putting the Indian on defensive mode.

Veteran Fu Bao Rang trapped a free hit to equalize in the 13th minute. Within next five minutes, ever reliable Ma Yi Bo’s straight drive off the team’s first penalty corner sounded the board for Chinese 2-1 lead. Right winger Zhao Yu Dia made use of a feed from left to enlarge the lead 3-1 in the 27th minute to break for the lemon with two goals advantage. Ma Yi Bo converted another penalty and De Jiao Jiao struck another in a counter attack in the second half.

Earlier, the match had to be started 30 minutes late due to power failure. Because of heavy rains, half time had to be increased from usual 10 minutes to about 40 minutes. A full force of volunteers were pressed in, to clear the waterlog.

Chinese jaggarnauth rolled smoothly today befitting their status of world no.3. The forward line of Zhao Yu Dia on the left, Fu Bao Rong in the centre and Li Hong Xia at the right flank waged innumerable sallies.

With neat trapping on high pace, they were better of defenders Subhadra Pradhan and Binita Toppo. Goalie Deepka Murthy and Ritu Rani extending helping hand, India thwarted some nippy attacks in time.

India got only few chances in the first half. Midway through the first half, defender Binita showed clean pair of heels to Chinese midfield, surged to their 25-yardline before giving a precise cross. Rani Ramphal could not trap inside the circle, a golden chance was thus frittered away.

Quickly after the second session started, Mamta miscued a close range shot. Within five minutes, India wasted two penalty corners but India could not cope up with the heavy ground. First Jasjeet’s grounder too feeble, and in the second Saba went for the deflection, but China goalie Zhang Yi Meng blocked with body.

India suffered a setback in the 40th minute, as medio Asunta Lakra get an yellow card and the team had to make to with a player less. In this spell, China scored a brace. It was soon compensated as sweeper back Ma Yi Bo also got temporary suspension soon for a rough tackle.

In the last five minutes, two penalty corners came India’s way, but jasjeet first and then Saba took the shot but no avail.

Once China established a comfortable 4-2 lead Kaushik brought Savita Punnia under the cage, she certainly lived upto the expectations of the coach, with some fabulous last second kicks and clearances.

India paid heavily for the sedate first half.

It is credit to the Indian defence and midfield that the score stood 3-1 at half time. Kaushik brought in fresh legs in vain midway through first half. He substituted Binita with Mukta Barla, with little consequence on the field.

This silver show however gives India valuable 700 points which will boost India’s World Ranking when it will be revised this year end.

Earlier, Soo Kyung lee struck the winner against Japan in the second half after two teams were tied 3-3 in the first half.

DAY 12

Kaushik sets out the roadmap for the future

To consolidate the gains of the Indian women’s dream run in the Asia Cup, Chief Coach Kaushik proposes long tour in a foreign country among other things.

“It is good we qualified for the World Cup in the first available opportunity. It is time now to plan better and consolidate the gains”, he said speaking on the course the team should take now to face sterner tests that lie ahead.
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Kaushik feels long camps are must for Indian women to stay fit and improve the game skills. At the same time, the veteran coach laments lacks of good teams in the domestic circuit with whom the girls can compete.

“Camps in India help to condition the players. We now need strong teams against which our girls can regularly practice. We don’t have strong teams in India. We can only ge them in strong hockey nations like West Europe, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa to get that extra edge”, he elaborated.

According to him, our girls mainly play against men’s teams in the camps which is of not much help as the men team also commit the same type of mistakes as women do. Kaushik advocates playing against different teams under different environment if the team has to move next level of excellence.

“If we aim bigger achievement on global stage, we should train in different environment, play different surfaces, used to different food”. Even I feel we should play many matches under foreign umpires, because interpretation of rules vary between countries”

Kaushik also wants a psychologist to travel to with the team on tour.

“I am thankful to Sports Authority of India, who provided us professional psychologist during our camp. But we need one to travel with us, to iron out various attitudinal and behavioural issues that confront the team”.

Kaushik feels at present the women team is playing only half of its potential. To realize their full potential, hard practice and scientific support, competition at elite level are important.

“Now that we qualified for the World Cup, many strong teams would like to play against us in their preparations for the same. We have to therefore recast and re-orient our strategies so that we can confidently take on them, and go on to improve our ranking in the world hierchy.

Players are also motivated now, gained enormous confidence after Bangkok. Better, we avail the mood for the better morrow”, Kaushik summed up.

DAY 13

Indian women hockey players did not get their Daily Allowances

Indian women hockey players want at least equal treatment with their men’s counterpart. They were compelled to feel so after they learnt while they were not paid any daily allowance on tour, men are getting it. Moments after winning the dream silver at Bangkok in the Women’s Asia Cup, some girls spoke on the issue.

“We have fared well in two tournaments successively without daily allowance from IWHF. At the same time, men players are getting their allowances” a senior member of the team said speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Normally, the sports federations pay a daily allowance of USD 35 to touring teams. Since long time, women hockey players were getting daily allowance from their employers Railways.

“At least most of us are satisfied with what our employer Railways pays on tours. There are some unemployed players in the team. At least they need to be paid, but not yet so far”, said another player who also did not want to be named for the fear of inviting wrath of the administration.

Rani Ramphal, Monika Badran, Ritu Rani, Savita Punnia from the Bangkok Asia Cup team who are yet to get job as they are under-age.

Incidentally, Rani Ramphal, 17, scored half a dozen goals against Thailand and the winner in the semifinal against Korea. Other three girls are also in the playing eleven.

There is also a growing feeling among the girls that the new administration too sideline women hockey. “They are interested only in men’s hockey”, a girl curtly said.

On prodded to explain why they felt so, a girl said that a top brand in sports goods company wants to sponsor their kit etc, but the authorities in Hockey India take it casually and did not even bother to respond to their proposals.

It is also gathered that most of the girls had to do with their old kits here for the Asia Cup. Some of them did not get the blazers also. The six girls who joined the Bangkok Asia Cup team from the Junior ranks had to make up with their Junior World Cup kit.