Hockey: Budding talent all set for U-18 Asia Cup test

Wajiha Shah

Low on international exposure and high on spirit. That’s how one can sum up the India Under-18 squad that has been selected for participation in the Under-18 Asia Cup hockey tournament scheduled to take place at Shanghai, China from July 17 to 26.

The girls appeared quite upbeat on the second and final day of the selections at the SAI, Sub-Centre here. They were running up and down the astro-turf with good amount of swiftness. Perhaps senior team’s victory in the Champion’s Challenge II tournament at Russia has acted as a catalyst for the girls.

Talking to The Indian Express, chief coach of the team GS Bhangu said, “The girls have the potential to reach the semi-finals. I am 80 per cent sure that they will fetch the country a medal and it will not be very surprising if they return home with a gold.”

“I have seen the performances of these under-18 girls during training sessions and I have observed that they are performing equally well as the under-21 team. The girls have been taking part in practice matches along with the STC Lucknow girls besides the boys hockey trainees of SAI day-boarding centre to brush up their skills further. Their physical fitness is another reason why I am so confident about a medal from them,” he explained.

Talking about the international exposure received by the girls Bhangu admitted, “There are some internationals like skipper Amubi Devi, Sunita Lakra or Sushila Chanu. But as most of the other girls will be first-timers so an international tour could have done wonders for the team. I feel that the team has no other drawback. They attended an eight week camp from March 25 to May 22. After that they were given a 15-day break and then again they have been sweating it out hard here since June 6. They are displaying good co-ordination as a team.”Former International player and selection panel member Bula Ganguly confided, “ The girls have been trained very well. They are all technically very sound and appear very fit. I can say that the training part was splendid. There is no reason why we should not be hopeful of medals. Teams like China, Japan and Korea and others may be good but these girls are also very talented.”

The India under-18 team includes: Suniti Kispota (goalkeeper), N Sanarika Chanu (goalkeeper), CH Pinki Devi (defender), Apoorva Vishwakarma (defender), Monica (mid-fielder), Sushila Chanu (mid-fielder), Sunita Lakra (mid-fielder), N Amubi Devi (captain; mid-fielder), Jamila Bano (mid-fielder), Jyoti Sharma (mid-fielder), Anupa Barla (forward), Binita Kindo (forward), Kavita Vidyarthi (forward), Anila S Beck (forward), Ram N Zoulai (forward), Lalrothuami (mid-fielder), Pratibha Chaudhary (forward), Rajni (forward).

Stand-byes: Sonali Minz (goal-keeper), Swati (goal-keeper), L Chanu (forward), Jahanara Bano (mid-fielder).