The Indian women’s hockey team is all set to play five matches against Australia in Adelaide to prepare for the upcoming Asian Games.
The Indian team, ranked eighth, will face off against Australia’s senior side in the first three matches on May 18, 20, and 21. Later, they will go against Australia ‘A’ on May 25 and 27 at Adelaide’s Mate Stadium.
The goalkeeper, Savita, who is the captain of the team, with an abundance of experience, leads the visitors and is joined by Deputy Deep Grace Ekka in defense. The Indian team intends to assess its current state and strategize for the Hangzhou Asian Games, scheduled from September 23 to October 8, which also guarantees a spot in the Paris Olympics.
The Indian team arrived in Adelaide four days before the matches to adapt to the new conditions and prepare for the upcoming games. They have been training daily and playing under lights to get ready for evening games.
The Indian team is enthusiastic about the upcoming games against Australia and focused on building their strengths. The climate is favorable, and it feels great to play hockey. In recent times, India defeated three-time Olympic champions Australia 1-0 in the quarter-finals of the Tokyo Olympics, while Australia clinched a win against India in the 2022 Commonwealth Games semis through a penalty shootout. The Indian Head Coach, Janneke Schopman, believes that the team is ready to showcase the hard work they have put in over the past few weeks.