The Indian Women's Hockey Team is set to commence their Germany tour with a match against China on Sunday. The team will play a total of three matches from 16th July to 19th July. Led by the experienced goalkeeper Savita as captain and Vice Captain Deep Grace Ekka, the team's schedule includes a game against World No. 11 China on 16th July in Limburg, followed by two consecutive matches against the hosts Germany in Wiesbaden and Rüsselsheim on 18th and 19th July, respectively. The tour serves as a preparation for the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games 2023.
"Valuable opportunity to test ourselves against an Asian opponent before the prestigious Hangzhou Asian Games:" Captain Savita Punia
Captain Savita expressed her thoughts on the upcoming clash with China, stating, "This match provides us with a valuable opportunity to test ourselves against an Asian opponent before the prestigious Hangzhou Asian Games 2023. We have undergone an extensive National Coaching Camp at the SAI Centre in Bengaluru, focusing on areas that require improvement. We are well-prepared for the upcoming games."
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The last encounter between India and China took place during the FIH Women's World Cup Spain & Netherlands 2022, resulting in a 1-1 draw. Since the 2013 Women's Asia Cup, the two teams have faced each other 17 times, with India emerging victorious in 10 matches, China winning five, and two matches ending in a tie.
"Confident of achieving positive outcome:" Deep Grace Ekka
Vice-Captain Deep Grace Ekka emphasized the team's familiarity with their opponents, saying, "We have faced China multiple times in recent years and are well aware of their capabilities. This knowledge allows us to prepare accordingly. We are confident of achieving a positive outcome from the match."
In their previous encounter, the Indian Women's Hockey Team played against Germany, ranked fourth in the world, during the 2021-22 FIH Women's Hockey Pro League on March 13th last year. The match concluded with India securing a 1-1 (3-0 SO) victory in the shoot-outs. Since 2013, the teams have faced each other five times, with India winning twice and Germany emerging victorious on three occasions.
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Janneke Schopman, the Chief Coach of the Indian Women's Hockey Team, mentioned that the team would adhere to their strategies and capitalize on their strengths during the Germany tour. "We have had an extensive camp prior to the tour, during which we identified our strengths. Both China and Germany possess strong and well-balanced squads. We will play to our strengths, stick to our plans, and strive for favourable results on this tour," said Janneke Schopman.
Indian Women's Hockey Team's Schedule for Tour of Germany:
- 16th July 2023: India vs China at 19:30 hrs IST
- 18th July 2023: India vs Germany at 14:30 hrs IST
- 19th July 2023: India vs Germany at 21:00 hrs IST
This content is rewritten from a media release by Indian Hockey.