New Indian Express: Need for evolution after Darwin slip-up: Indian Forward Rani Rampal

HYDERABAD: Returning empty-handed from a four-nation hockey tournament held earlier this month in Darwin (Australia) has given a big jolt to the Indian women’s team’s preparations.

The tournament featuring New Zealand, Australia, Japan and India has left the thinktank and coach Mathias Ahrens with a lot to ponder upon. With no wins under their belt, glaring loopholes in their game have come to the fore. After creating history last year by becoming only the first women’s team since 1980 to qualify for the Olympics, this bunch was brimming with confidence. But, the recently-concluded tournament has left a big dent on their morale.

Moreover, it has been an eye-opener for the team. Now, with just a month left for the mega event in Rio, the girls are back to training at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Complex.

Forward Rani Rampal, aware of all the shortcomings of the team, wants to train hard, and expects her teammates to put up a spirited show at the Olympics.

“Our failure to convert penalty corners and to attack when the situation demanded led to our downfall. We lacked quality in our attack. We have to work really hard now,” Rani told Express.

The journey for Olympic qualification was a tough one for the women’s team, and they don’t want to squander the opportunity that has come their way. “Everyone dreams of playing in the Olympics. We have got a chance to play in Rio after a lot of hard work. Every member of the team wants to give it their best now.”

The current team knows what it takes to perform at the highest level. They have set their goals straight and are working towards them.

“We have nine players from the junior team that won bronze at the 2013 World Cup. We understand each others’ game really well, so it’s a matter of time before the results start coming. We are targeting a spot in the semifinals, and we are good enough to pull off that kind of an upset,” added Rani. The Haryana native also feels that there isn’t much of a difference between top-ranked teams, and the current Indian sqaud can compete with the very best. “We all have the same game, mostly. The only thing that makes the difference is that we don’t get to play good sides that often. That kind of hampers our performance. But if we do well in Rio, we hope everything will change.”

Taking a cue from the men’s team — that has slowly moved up the ranks in world hockey — Rani is aiming for the transformation of the women’s team as well.

“If the men’s team can do well, so can we. Their improved performance over the last two years has given us immense confidence to do well.”