* It has been nearly a year since the Indian women hockey players have played an international tournament at home.
*
During that time the players have had a new coach in Australian Neil Hawgood, who believes the team should play more at home to learn to cope with pressure situations.
The Indian team played a practice match against Russia, winning 3-0, at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium ahead of the Hockey World League Round 2 beginning on February 18 at the same venue.
Hawgood, however, felt the turf was quicker than the one they practiced at Patiala and the team would take time to adjust to it. "The pitch was much slower in Patiala. So it will be a bit of challenge for the girls. But I am happy that they are getting to play at home after such a long time. It is important for them to play more Tests at home. It's here that players would face a lot more pressure than when they play abroad," Hawgood said.
The Australian felt the team also needed to play a lot more international matches.
Eight teams will qualify from Round 2, to be held at other venues as well, and join the eight highest-ranked teams in the Round 3 (semifinal league) from June 13 to July 7, 2013. The Hockey World League is a qualifying competition for the 2014 FIH World Cup, to be held in Hague in the Netherlands. The women's event includes ninth-ranked Japan, Russia, Malaysia and Kazakhstan and Fiji.
Meanwhile, the Indian men's team chose to take a break for recovery. Only junior players turned out to train in presence of coach Michael Nobbs and high performance manager Roelant Oltmans. MB Aiyappa, Gurmail Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Imran Khan and Gurjinder Singh trained on Wednesday. India will play their opening match against Fiji. Reported by Deccan Herald 4 days ago.
*
During that time the players have had a new coach in Australian Neil Hawgood, who believes the team should play more at home to learn to cope with pressure situations.
The Indian team played a practice match against Russia, winning 3-0, at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium ahead of the Hockey World League Round 2 beginning on February 18 at the same venue.
Hawgood, however, felt the turf was quicker than the one they practiced at Patiala and the team would take time to adjust to it. "The pitch was much slower in Patiala. So it will be a bit of challenge for the girls. But I am happy that they are getting to play at home after such a long time. It is important for them to play more Tests at home. It's here that players would face a lot more pressure than when they play abroad," Hawgood said.
The Australian felt the team also needed to play a lot more international matches.
Eight teams will qualify from Round 2, to be held at other venues as well, and join the eight highest-ranked teams in the Round 3 (semifinal league) from June 13 to July 7, 2013. The Hockey World League is a qualifying competition for the 2014 FIH World Cup, to be held in Hague in the Netherlands. The women's event includes ninth-ranked Japan, Russia, Malaysia and Kazakhstan and Fiji.
Meanwhile, the Indian men's team chose to take a break for recovery. Only junior players turned out to train in presence of coach Michael Nobbs and high performance manager Roelant Oltmans. MB Aiyappa, Gurmail Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Imran Khan and Gurjinder Singh trained on Wednesday. India will play their opening match against Fiji. Reported by Deccan Herald 4 days ago.