Hockey hoops and homegrown hope: India eye title defense in ACT

Having struggled to win matches the entire year the Indian womens hockey team will look to start afresh in a new Olympic cycle by defending its Asian Champions Trophy ACT title at home beginning with a clash against lowerranked Malaysia here on MondayIndia have won the title twice in 2016 Singapore and 2023 Ranchi in the seven editions of the tournament so farAfter failing to qualify for the Paris Olympics the Indian team lost 13 matches and won just two with one draw out of 16 in the womens FIH Pro League this year but will hope to make a turnaround in their fortune with a strong performance in the ACT India have fielded a mixed team consisting of youth and experienced players for the tournament under the leadership of Salima Tete Striker Navneet Kaur will serve as Salimas deputy as India enter the competition with high expectationsThe team will face stiff competition from five other nations including reigning Olympic silvermedallists China Japan Korea Malaysia and Thailand in the battle for continental supremacyThe Indian defence will be anchored by a solid lineup featuring Udita Jyoti Ishika Chaudhary Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam and Vaishnavi Vitthal PhalkeIn the midfield captain Tete will be supported by Neha Sharmila Devi Manisha Chauhan Sunelita Toppo and Lalremsiami all known for their dynamic playAlso Read Asian Champions Trophy lsquoLot of celebration little training makes ACT challengingrsquoThe forward lineup has the likes of Navneet Kaur Sangita Kumari Deepika Preeti Dubey and Beauty Dungdung leading the chargeThe goalkeeping duties will be shared between the experienced Savita also former captain and rising talent Bichu Devi KharibamSushila and Beauty Dungdung will be making a return to the team after successfully completing their rehabilitationThe Indians will definitely start as one of the favourites in the tournament along with reigning Olympic silver medallist China who are ranked sixth in the worldSouth Korea are the most successful team in the tournament having won it thrice while Japan had won it twiceIts the start of a new journey for the Indian womens hockey team after having missed out on qualification for the Paris OlympicsSalimas team under new coach Harendra Singh will aim to bury the ghosts of the past and start a new journey with LA 2028 in focusSalima had captained the Indian team in the European leg of the Pro League earlier this year where it fared poorlySalima attributed the teams downward spiral to the lack of fitness and mental toughnessAfter creating history in Tokyo in 2021 the team failed to qualify for the Paris Olympics this year and also performed poorly in the last FIH Pro League Yes of course we were disappointed but we cant think about the past and need to move forward We should move on because if we dont move on we can never win a match Salima had told PTIWe had to start from the beginning We had to start from the scratch And fitness was an area that Harendra sir coach Herendra Singh had pointed out and which needs a lot of work she saidIt was our mistake that we didnt work on fitness But since sir came we have worked a lot on our fitness In todays level if you dont have fitness you cant play hockey because it is a fast sport and you need fitness Salima said the entire squad now realises the importance of fitnessIn Mondays other matches Japan will play South Korea in the tournament opener followed by the game between China and ThailandThe timings of the matches have been rescheduled in view of potential havoc due to a large insect infestation under floodlightsAs per the revised schedule the first match of the day will start at 1215pm followed by the second at 230pm and the last at 445pm Previously the matches were slated for evening slots at 3pm 515pm and 730pmWith agency inputs