Date:10/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/10/stories/2008041060382100.htm

Sport - Hockey

Women’s team optimistic

NEW DELHI: The Indian women’s hockey team was optimistic of its chances in the Olympic qualifiers at Kazan as it got ready to leave for the Russian city on Wednesday evening.

“The preparations in Lucknow went off well. We hope to do well,” said the chief coach, M.K. Kaushik.

The team only had limited international engagements in its build-up but played practice matches against the men’s teams in Lucknow.

Kaushik said that the US would naturally be the main hurdle, though Russia, with its home advantage, could also pose a problem.

The other teams in the field are Belgium, France and the Netherlands Antilles.

The tournament will be held from April 19 to 27.

Kaushik said that the girls would have enough time to get acclimatised in Kazan where the current mid-day temperatures were in the region of 21 degrees Celsius.

Four players — goalkeeper Poonam Toppo, full back Pushpa Pradhan, midfielder Manorama Devi and forward Adline Kerketta — were dropped from the originally named 22-member squad. The team includes experienced forward Pritam Rani Siwach, who makes a comeback after five years.