The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : India takes on New Zealand

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 05, 2005

Sport

Sport - Hockey

India takes on New Zealand

Rakesh Rao

NEW DELHI: With New Zealand struggling to cope with form and weather, India has a realistic chance of coming out stronger from its crucial league match on Wednesday to ensure a berth in the final of the 7th Indira Gandhi International Gold Cup hockey tournament for women at the National Stadium here.

When the action resumes after Tuesday's rest day, India will be keen to raise its level of play from the one seen against Malaysia and Italy over the weekend. Coach M.K. Kaushik and captain Helen Mary have been talking about the team `peaking' in time for the big matches against New Zealand and Australia. Now the time has come for India to reproduce the form earned it the Asia Cup at the same venue last February.

So far, the tournament has seen some very mediocre fare. Australia, New Zealand and India have all looked equally poor when it came to converting chances. On the other hand, Malaysia and Italy have not done too badly if one considers their lack of calibre.

Chances bright

After three days of play, if India's chances of making the final have brightened it is mainly because ladies from Australia and New Zealand have struggled to cope with the Capital's hot weather after experiencing the end of winter at home.

When the Indians played a four-match series in New Zealand last year, they had done well to hold the host 3-3 in the last two games after losing the first two. "After the first two games, the Indians had plugged the gaps in the midfield," recalled New Zealand's captain Suzie Muirhead ahead of the match against India.

Kaushik finds this New Zealand team beatable as compared to the side of last year. "I am confident our side is capable of making the final. Our forwards did reasonably well against Italy. We have worked on the weaknesses of our midfield and I hope they perform well in the coming games," said the coach.

In the day's other match, Australia gets a fine opportunity to find its scoring rhythm against Italy. The Italian squad, expecting a four-player reinforcement, did well to restrict New Zealand on Monday. But Australia, after its unimpressive showings so far, can be expected to come really hard at Italy in preparation for the `big' game against India.

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