NEW DELHI: The Indian men's hockey coach Harendra Singh feels his protecting champion facet cannot afford to take issues easy in subsequent month's Asian Games even though it is a gold medal favorite owing to its highest-ranked status in the draw.
ALSO READ: Indian men's hockey team begin title defence towards Hong Kong
World no. 6 India have been placed in Pool A alongside Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong China, while Pool B comprises Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Oman, Thailand and hosts Indonesia.
India will open their title defence towards minnows Hong Kong China on August 22 followed by means of games towards Japan (August 24), Korea (August 26) and Sri Lanka (August 28).
"Though we are the defending champions, we cannot take any team lightly. I don't call this an easy group. We must be highly cautious against each of these teams as we have not played against teams like Hong Kong China and Sri Lanka," Harendra mentioned after the schedule was once announced on Monday.
"Japan is a rising team in Asia and are capable of surprising any team. They have done well in recent events while Korea too are a good team, play very defensive hockey."
ALSO READ: Rupinder, Akash make comebacks; Sardar retains position in Asian Games squad
India defeated Pakistan in the final of the 2014 Asian Games to win the gold and with the 2020 Olympics berth at stake, Harendra and his men would be eager to guide their direct price tag to Tokyo here.
"I expect the team to be hungry to win the gold again and get direct qualification for the 2020 Olympic Games. I want to make it clear that there will be no room for complacency," the manager coach asserted.
The Indian ladies's team, meanwhile, has been placed in Pool B alongside title holders Korea, Thailand, Kazakhstan and Indonesia. Pool A features China, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong China and Chinese Taipei.
The Indian ladies's team will open its campaign towards hosts Indonesia on August 19, followed by means of games towards Kazakhstan (August 21), Korea (August 25) and Thailand (August 27).
Like his counterpart of the men's team, Indian ladies's hockey team chief coach Sjoerd Marijne is also eying a gold in the Asian Games however feels Korea will give them a tough battle in their pursuit.
The Indian ladies's team needed to settled for the bronze medal in the 2014 Asian Games.
"In the Asian Games pool, Korea will be our toughest challenge and I am happy we have played quite a few matches against them this year and are aware of how they play," Marijne mentioned.
"The only thing I would like to say to the team is that it does not matter who we play, if we want to win, we must win against everyone whether they are ranked lower than us or higher," he added.
ALSO READ: Indian men's hockey team begin title defence towards Hong Kong
World no. 6 India have been placed in Pool A alongside Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong China, while Pool B comprises Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Oman, Thailand and hosts Indonesia.
India will open their title defence towards minnows Hong Kong China on August 22 followed by means of games towards Japan (August 24), Korea (August 26) and Sri Lanka (August 28).
"Though we are the defending champions, we cannot take any team lightly. I don't call this an easy group. We must be highly cautious against each of these teams as we have not played against teams like Hong Kong China and Sri Lanka," Harendra mentioned after the schedule was once announced on Monday.
"Japan is a rising team in Asia and are capable of surprising any team. They have done well in recent events while Korea too are a good team, play very defensive hockey."
ALSO READ: Rupinder, Akash make comebacks; Sardar retains position in Asian Games squad
India defeated Pakistan in the final of the 2014 Asian Games to win the gold and with the 2020 Olympics berth at stake, Harendra and his men would be eager to guide their direct price tag to Tokyo here.
"I expect the team to be hungry to win the gold again and get direct qualification for the 2020 Olympic Games. I want to make it clear that there will be no room for complacency," the manager coach asserted.
The Indian ladies's team, meanwhile, has been placed in Pool B alongside title holders Korea, Thailand, Kazakhstan and Indonesia. Pool A features China, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong China and Chinese Taipei.
The Indian ladies's team will open its campaign towards hosts Indonesia on August 19, followed by means of games towards Kazakhstan (August 21), Korea (August 25) and Thailand (August 27).
Like his counterpart of the men's team, Indian ladies's hockey team chief coach Sjoerd Marijne is also eying a gold in the Asian Games however feels Korea will give them a tough battle in their pursuit.
The Indian ladies's team needed to settled for the bronze medal in the 2014 Asian Games.
"In the Asian Games pool, Korea will be our toughest challenge and I am happy we have played quite a few matches against them this year and are aware of how they play," Marijne mentioned.
"The only thing I would like to say to the team is that it does not matter who we play, if we want to win, we must win against everyone whether they are ranked lower than us or higher," he added.
We must be cautious in Asiad title defence: Harendra Singh
![We must be cautious in Asiad title defence: Harendra Singh]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
July 17, 2018
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