While the Indian women’s hockey team’s achievement of qualifying for the Tokyo Olympic Games has been widely celebrated, the expectations of a medal is unrealistic given the ranking of the team vis-a-vis the competition. 

World No. 10 India have World No. 1 Netherlands, defending champions Great Britain (5), Germany (3), Ireland (9) and South Africa (16) for company in Group A, while Pool B comprises Australia (4), Argentina (2), New Zealand (6), Spain (7), China (11) and hosts Japan (13). With only four teams from each group qualifying for the quarter-finals, coach Sjoerd Marijne knows it’s going to be tough.