K. ARUMUGAM
“We are a new bunch of players with huge potential to do well on international scene”. This is how Japan’s new chief coach New Zealander Jude Menezes described about his team that will face biggest challenge in the ongoing Women’s Asia Cup in Muscat. Oman. Two surprise teams of the contemporary women’s hockey scene – reigning Asian Games gold medallists Japan and Tokyo Olympics surprise pack India – will view today in their second match in Pool a. Earlier on the opening day, India stemrolled Malaysia for a fluent 9-0 win while Japan struck a decent 6-0 win over Singapore.
4-time Asia Cup player and captain Savita will have a tough outing today at Muscat.
Japan’s chief coach is former India goalkeeper Jude Menezes. He has brought his team to Muscat well before a fortnight, getting training on a private Club. The defending champions India on the hand landed in Muscat just two days before the start of the tournament
Its a big test for Indian women’s chief coach Jenneke Scopmann. Muscat is the first big tournament for the Dutch coach as the chief coach of the Indian women’s team. Before that she was assisting history maker Sjoerd Marinje at Tokyo Olympics.
India and Japan have equal record in the history of Asia Cup. Of the five matches played between the two Asia power houses, both have won twice, one is drawn and have scored 10 goals each. Winner of today will meet China in the Semifinal.
Japan women have a history of producing surprising results. Only a month ago at Dongae, they defeated South Korea twice (in round robin and final) to annex the truncated Asian Champions Trophy.
They have in them the veteran Yuri Nagai, who hails from a hockey family, and is leading the Japanese here in Muscat. Its the 29-year old veteran Yuri Nagai, as forward will be a thorn in the flesh of Indian defence. Her younger sister Hazuki Nagai, also a forward, in fact scored first in the final at Dongae along with Kaho Tanaka is rested for Muscat assignment. Still, the young team has many sharp shooters.
The India’s strength is its experience. India, for instant, has collective caps twice that of their today’s rival. With three players having more than 200 caps, India’s collective cap here is 1871 while it is 857 for Japan.
The moot point is whether its going to be experience or exuberance. Due to COVID-19 infection, India failed to complete all matches at Dongae while Japan finished it with title with all win record. The brief experience may come in handy for the Japanese dynamos while its a major challenge for Savita’s girls after Tokyo.
Both teams had a practice of about one and half hour on the Qaboos turf, being rest day for them. For India it seems Nikki Pradhan will not play as she was not seen yesterday. Two debutants here – Isha Chaudhry and Jyoti, who excelled against Malaysia on the other day will be having a high voltage encounter of their career today.
Japan at Dongae Asian Champions Trophy (Dec 2021)
Japan bt SK 1-0 (RR)
Japan bt China 3-2 (RR)
Japan bt Thailand 6-0 (RR)
Japan bt Korea 2-1 (final) (RR)
India – Japan will play today 08.30 PM.