Indian women’s hockey team leaves for Japan

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

There are lessons to be learnt from the Indian men’s hockey team finishing eighth in the World Cup at home.

The national women’s hockey team, which watched the men fare miserably in the seventh place contest recently at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium, has vowed to prepare much better for the women’s World Cup to be held in Rosario, Argentina, from August 29 to September 11.

Coach M.K. Kaushik said the team was ready to fight it out in the Test series against Japan and China, in the absence of a few key players like Surender Kaur, Deepika Murthy and Mamta Kharab, not available for various reasons, including injury.

“It is a good chance for the youngsters to see whether they are ready to replace the main players,” said Kaushik, a few hours before the team left for Japan, on Tuesday.

“We will reach tomorrow evening, and have a match in Gifu next day,” said the coach.

The team will play five matches against Japan and four Tests against China, on the second leg of the tour starting on March 25.

India was scheduled to have two other exposure tours of South Africa and England, but both the plans fell through despite having been approved as part of the Long Term Development Programme (LTDP).