The following question would make for good trivia. How many hockey players from Ranchi have represented India at the Olympics? The answer is Jaipal Singh Munda, Ajit Lakra, Nikki Pradhan, Salima Tete, Late Shri Michael Kindo, Late Shri Marang Gomke, Silbanus Dungdung and Manohar Topno. The footprints of Jharkhand’s rich hockey heritage would be on full display in the forthcoming Olympic Qualifiers to be held in Ranchi from January 13 to 19 as four local players – Pradhan, Beauty Dungdung, Tete and Sangita Kumar are from the state – have been named in the squad.
Those four players and the rest of the Indian contingent know what is at stake – only three Olympic spots are up for grabs from the Ranchi leg. So, the competition would be fierce. India are clubbed alongside Italy, New Zealand and the United States in Pool B. Pool A will comprise Chile, Czech Republic, Germany and Japan. Two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals. The two losing sides in the last four will lock horns in order to secure the all-important third spot.
The Savita Punia-led home side will open their campaign with a game against the USA at 7.30 PM local time on January 13. India, who narrowly missed out on booking their place at the Asian Games 2023, are one of the favourites to come out on top. They will, however, be missing the services of the experienced forward Vandana Katariya, who was ruled out of the tournament after fracturing her cheekbone.
In her absence, the likes of Sangita Kumari, Deepika and Lalremsiami have to step up. Incidentally, Sangita was in fine form in the recently concluded Asian Champions Trophy, scoring goals against Thailand, Malaysia and Japan.
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India, however, have some fine-tuning to do, especially in relation to converting penalty corners. The focus of the Indian squad could be on finding the right angles and tackling the opponent’s first-line rushers. Just to exemplify the point further, at the Asian Games, India could convert only 16 out of 69 penalty corners. In that backdrop, it is heartening to note that the Indian girls were sharpening their skills under the tutelage of Rupinder Pal Singh. When the tournament begins, all eyes would be on Deepika to crack the goals as the penalty-corner specialist.
In the defence, India chose not to avail the services of the experienced Deep Grace Ekka. And that would also mean India don’t have another option to take penalty corners. The onus would be on Nikki, Udita Duhan, Ishika Chaudhary and Monika Malik to provide India with sure-footed security in the backline. Nisha, Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke, Neha Goyal, Navneet Kaur, Tete, Sonika Tandi, Jyoti Rumawat and Dungdung are the available options in the midfield.
New Zealand, ranked No. 9, would also be vying for the top slot in the group. Samantha Child, the midfielder, is one of the decorated players in the squad. She has been a part of the squad over three Olympics, and also was a member of the Black Sticks squad that won the Gold Medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2018.
Olivia Merry, one of the co-captains, is also a fulcrum of the line-up, having partaken in 277 games, with 127 goals next to her name. Elizabeth Thompson and Megan Hull, the other captain, are also key figures in the side. Meanwhile, the USA will be co-captained by Ashley Hoffman and Amanda Golini. Around 10 players who took on India in the FIH Pro League match in 2021-22 have made it to the squad.
The USA also would look to exact some revenge for the heartbreak that they suffered against the home side in 2019, where they lost out on punching their ticket to the Olympics after India won on the basis of aggregate. Incidentally, Golini, the current skipper, had netted two goals in the second game of the play-offs. Also, Janneke Schopman, the head coach of India, was then helming the USA side. Italy, the fourth team in the group, will be co-led by Federica Carta and Sara Puglisi.
In Group A, the Nike Lorenz-led Germany are expected to top the group. Cecile Pieper and Anne Schroder are also key members of the squad. Japan, the 11th-ranked side, would be hoping to upset the applecart and pip the fancied Germans.
There is more to the tournament than just mundane analyses. The warm welcome that every visiting team received illustrates the vibrant culture of the city. In fact, the German players were so overwhelmed that they started dancing along with the locals. May the tournament turn out to be an enriching experience for all – the rhythm of the hockey sticks being in tune with the festivities of the city.
EXCLUSIVE 🚨
“I was able to do it as a player; I can do it as a coach.” Janneke Schopman, the Head Coach of the Indian Women’s Hockey Team, sou nds confident as they embark on their quest for the #ParisOlympics in Ranchi.
The former Dutch player shares insights into their… pic.twitter.com/Thkbn7fK4j
— RevSportz (@RevSportz) January 10, 2024