Earlier than the FIH Hockey Professional League dwelling leg began, India coach Janneke Schopman needed to see whether or not, towards a number of the greatest groups on this planet, her facet can nonetheless present they’ll compete. However carrying on from the heartbreak in Ranchi – the place India fell wanting qualifying for the Paris Olympics – their Professional League marketing campaign has been off to a disappointing begin as they suffered their third straight defeat on Wednesday.
Australia had been the newest handy India a defeat as they prevailed 3-0 towards Savita Punia and Co in Bhubaneshwar to maintain India rooted near the underside of the desk on their return to the multi-nation match. A 1-3 loss towards the Netherlands – absolutely the powerhouses in ladies’s hockey, at the moment holding all the main titles – is nothing to be ashamed of however on both facet of it, there have been worrying performances.
Coming so near the reversal in Ranchi, the Professional League marketing campaign was at all times going to be tough for Schopman: firstly to choose up a squad reeling from the harm, secondly to impact sufficient modifications to make a distinction towards high quality sides who’re all heading for Paris. The second side has meant that, regardless of some contemporary additions to the squad, the script has panned out largely just like what we noticed unfold on the Olympic Qualifiers.
A blistering counter-attacking purpose for Australia seals their second victory in two days in season 5 of the #FIHProLeague towards hosts India!
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— Worldwide Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) February 7, 2024
India struggled to transform probabilities towards Japan within the match that mattered probably the most, trailing to an early purpose after which fruitlessly attacking for almost all of the match. The Penalty Nook conversion has been a priority space for some time, and regardless of the return of Gurjit Kaur, it stays a difficulty in Odisha. In opposition to Australia, India failed to attain from 5 penalty corners. In reality, their two objectives thus far within the match – from Vandana Katariya towards China and Navneet Kaur towards Netherlands – have been from open play.
On the opposite facet, India have conceded 50 per cent of their objectives from PC conditions, with the sensational Yibbi Jansen exhibiting twice within the match towards the Netherlands how necessary a prime goalscorer from these set-pieces could be. It’s an space Schopman has mentioned India should tackle within the massive image, however within the right here and now, profitable PCs doesn’t really feel like probabilities for the facet to get on the scoreboard. Certainly, from one of many PCs that India gained towards Australia, they had been left so open on the again that the Hockeyroos almost scored.
A win nonetheless alludes us right here within the FIH Professional League 2023/24.
One other powerful loss for the crew, we confirmed sparks of brilliance all through the sport however could not convert our probabilities.
INDIA 🇮🇳 0 – AUSTRALIA 🇦🇺 3
Objective Scorers:
19′ STEWART Grace
23′ STEWART Tatum (PC)
55′ NOBBS… pic.twitter.com/mtFsi1zmFx— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) February 7, 2024
The defeat towards Australia maybe will sting probably the most as a result of – regardless of being World No. 2 – Australia haven’t precisely performed at their greatest thus far. They misplaced 0-3 towards China and even towards India, had been nicely under their greatest and ill-discipline noticed them play many of the ending phases with a participant quick. However when it mattered, they had been scientific in scoring, aided by India’s errors in defence… and proper now, being scientific, placing away probabilities once they create is the place India are struggling probably the most.
Up subsequent, is a match towards the USA, who’ve already prompted heartburn for this Indian facet, handing them a harmful defeat in Ranchi not too way back. Because the Professional League marketing campaign begins to really feel heavy on this crew, a win is desperately wanted as they appear to finish a run of 5 straight defeats at dwelling.