NEW DELHI: In the 44-year history of the FIH Women's World Cup unfold across 14 editions (together with 2018), India will make simplest their 7th appearance at the showpiece tournament. But while the country's World Cup numbers and history do not gas a lot hope, the group's resilience, perspective and advanced fitness of late has promised that they may not be pushovers at the showpiece tournament starting Saturday in London.
ALSO READ: FIH goofs up with Indian national flag, omits Ashoka Chakra
Many would possibly nonetheless point at the gulf between No. 10 India and the nine teams above them in FIH Rankings, however those crucial binoculars want to be adjusted for a clearer and fairer present image.
The Indian girls have started bridging that gap, especially during the last yr.
A sworn statement can be found within the group's access into top 10 after reclaiming the Asia Cup last yr. They are now simplest behind South Korea (No. nine) and China (No. 8) when it comes to Asian nations topping FIH charts.
Finishing fourth at the 2018 Commonwealth Games (CWG) simplest added conviction to the belief that this bunch can make stronger upon what its predecessors accomplished. However, finishing above the fourth rank India accomplished within the inaugural World Cup in 1974 shall be a miracle of sorts.
In sensible terms then, reaching the quarterfinals in London shall be a large tick-mark for a group that has started competing better with the highest hockey nations however will also be mercurial in nature.
ALSO READ: All you wish to have to learn about India's campaign
That was once witnessed two times at the CWG this yr, where India performed its middle out however misplaced to Australia within the semifinals and then crumbled to a 0-6 defeat in opposition to England within the bronze-medal playoff. That they beat the similar English group within the pool degree tells that the performance can frustratingly blow cold and hot.
Things in Indian girls's hockey were not mediocre to begin with, taking into consideration the fourth-place end within the 1974 World Cup and the 1980 Moscow Olympics, adopted by way of the 1982 Asian Games gold.
But if one looks at 36 years and counting since an Asian Games gold (1982), 16 years since a CWG gold (2002) and looking ahead to 13 years to win some other Asia Cup (2003 and 2017), the graph has simplest plummeted.
The reasons can be as in every single place because the clichéd 'transition from grass to turf', focus extra on men's hockey and the performance in Asia being the federation's alleged precedence for girls, which undoubtedly displays within the girls's World Cup graph.
Since the fourth-place end within the 1974 World Cup, India, but even so lacking qualification multiple instances, finished 7th in 1978, 11th in 1983, 12th in 1998, 11th in 2006 and 9th in 2010.
But 2010 onward, there may be been a welcome alternate in outlook of the federation. In different words, hockey's reins moving from the erstwhile Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) to Hockey India (HI) benefited the game and players, each women and men.
The development was once glaring. The group received a historical bronze at the 2013 girls's junior World Cup, while the seniors finished a promising fourth at the Gold Coast CWG this yr, but even so profitable the 2016 Asian Champions Trophy and the 2017 Asia Cup.
This was once the results of equivalent consideration on girls's hockey when it comes to appointment of coaches, fitness experts, technical analysts and exposure with extra world excursions.
Thus the 18 that includes at the World Cup in London can't whinge. What skipper Rani Rampal and coach Sjoerd Marijne should be sure is that the women do not get overwhelmed by way of the enormity of the instance.
That's where the 16 debutants in squad shall be tested. Only Rani and veteran Deepika have prior to now performed in a World Cup. They will, thus, need to play the role of shepherds but even so being key performers.
The first match itself shall be a task, going through World No. 2 England subsidized by way of a complete area at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre. But Rani confident India are able.
"The key is to not rush and focus match by match," the skipper advised TOI.com. "Our first game is against hosts England and we are ready for it. We have prepared well. To play in front of a packed stadium is always exciting. Players yearn for that."
Besides England, Ireland and USA are the opposite two teams India will play in Pool B.
The butterflies can be sensed in Gurjit Kaur's remark. "It is my first World Cup, so I am very excited," said India's penalty-corner specialist.
So this Indian group's struggle shall be as a lot with themselves as with the fighters. A have a look at the history and past record can be the supply of jitters, however it's a must to keep in mind that it is 'history'. They have a task to hand and having a look again is the last thing they are able to do.
India in World Cups
Appearances: 6
Best Finish: Fourth (1974)
Matches: 39
Won: nine
Lost: 27
Drawn: 3
Goals Scored: 48
Goals Conceded: 87
(Stats by way of: BG Joshi)
ALSO READ: FIH goofs up with Indian national flag, omits Ashoka Chakra
Many would possibly nonetheless point at the gulf between No. 10 India and the nine teams above them in FIH Rankings, however those crucial binoculars want to be adjusted for a clearer and fairer present image.
The Indian girls have started bridging that gap, especially during the last yr.
A sworn statement can be found within the group's access into top 10 after reclaiming the Asia Cup last yr. They are now simplest behind South Korea (No. nine) and China (No. 8) when it comes to Asian nations topping FIH charts.
Finishing fourth at the 2018 Commonwealth Games (CWG) simplest added conviction to the belief that this bunch can make stronger upon what its predecessors accomplished. However, finishing above the fourth rank India accomplished within the inaugural World Cup in 1974 shall be a miracle of sorts.
In sensible terms then, reaching the quarterfinals in London shall be a large tick-mark for a group that has started competing better with the highest hockey nations however will also be mercurial in nature.
ALSO READ: All you wish to have to learn about India's campaign
That was once witnessed two times at the CWG this yr, where India performed its middle out however misplaced to Australia within the semifinals and then crumbled to a 0-6 defeat in opposition to England within the bronze-medal playoff. That they beat the similar English group within the pool degree tells that the performance can frustratingly blow cold and hot.
Things in Indian girls's hockey were not mediocre to begin with, taking into consideration the fourth-place end within the 1974 World Cup and the 1980 Moscow Olympics, adopted by way of the 1982 Asian Games gold.
But if one looks at 36 years and counting since an Asian Games gold (1982), 16 years since a CWG gold (2002) and looking ahead to 13 years to win some other Asia Cup (2003 and 2017), the graph has simplest plummeted.
The reasons can be as in every single place because the clichéd 'transition from grass to turf', focus extra on men's hockey and the performance in Asia being the federation's alleged precedence for girls, which undoubtedly displays within the girls's World Cup graph.
Since the fourth-place end within the 1974 World Cup, India, but even so lacking qualification multiple instances, finished 7th in 1978, 11th in 1983, 12th in 1998, 11th in 2006 and 9th in 2010.
But 2010 onward, there may be been a welcome alternate in outlook of the federation. In different words, hockey's reins moving from the erstwhile Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) to Hockey India (HI) benefited the game and players, each women and men.
The development was once glaring. The group received a historical bronze at the 2013 girls's junior World Cup, while the seniors finished a promising fourth at the Gold Coast CWG this yr, but even so profitable the 2016 Asian Champions Trophy and the 2017 Asia Cup.
This was once the results of equivalent consideration on girls's hockey when it comes to appointment of coaches, fitness experts, technical analysts and exposure with extra world excursions.
Thus the 18 that includes at the World Cup in London can't whinge. What skipper Rani Rampal and coach Sjoerd Marijne should be sure is that the women do not get overwhelmed by way of the enormity of the instance.
That's where the 16 debutants in squad shall be tested. Only Rani and veteran Deepika have prior to now performed in a World Cup. They will, thus, need to play the role of shepherds but even so being key performers.
The first match itself shall be a task, going through World No. 2 England subsidized by way of a complete area at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre. But Rani confident India are able.
"The key is to not rush and focus match by match," the skipper advised TOI.com. "Our first game is against hosts England and we are ready for it. We have prepared well. To play in front of a packed stadium is always exciting. Players yearn for that."
Besides England, Ireland and USA are the opposite two teams India will play in Pool B.
The butterflies can be sensed in Gurjit Kaur's remark. "It is my first World Cup, so I am very excited," said India's penalty-corner specialist.
So this Indian group's struggle shall be as a lot with themselves as with the fighters. A have a look at the history and past record can be the supply of jitters, however it's a must to keep in mind that it is 'history'. They have a task to hand and having a look again is the last thing they are able to do.
India in World Cups
Appearances: 6
Best Finish: Fourth (1974)
Matches: 39
Won: nine
Lost: 27
Drawn: 3
Goals Scored: 48
Goals Conceded: 87
(Stats by way of: BG Joshi)
India women look to conquer past World Cup jitters
![India women look to conquer past World Cup jitters]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
July 20, 2018
Rating:
