Tag Archives: Women’s Hockey

India, Sports

Women hockey team training to peak at right time: Midfielder Monika

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Waming Up Monika photo courtesy: WORLDSPORTPICs © FRANK UIJLENBROEK

Harpal  Singh Bedi

New Delhi: As Tokyo Olympics nears the Women’s hockey team’s training programme is getting more intense and focused.

According to versatile midfielder Monika ” Our focus is to improve each day and be ready for the Games and the entire group is mentally prepared”

Talking to Hockey India in Bengaluru Monika said that  the coaching staff is planning week-on-week training in such a way that the team peaks at the right time. 

“The focus now is to keep improving on our strengths and work on the week points. Our aim is to peak at the right time. 

“Every player’s workload is taken into consideration and improvement is mapped accordingly. Our awareness about each session, how it helps, what it’s for etc is much better now than before. 

The  midfielder  asserted that team is in the right mind-set to achieve their goal. “We have had a few setbacks with some of our players testing positive, but they are all well and back to training now. We don’t want to think of the issues that are out of our control.,”. 

Explaining the training schedule of the team  Monika sad  “It is always a red session,” 

 “Red sessions are mostly higher-intensity training sessions where we focus on match intensity with the idea of superseding match intensity with small-sided variations.” 

Further elaborating she said “Each session is either focused on speed or endurance or direction focused. We have about two-three such sessions a week. Those are the days when our fitness levels are really tested. Each day we train anywhere between 2 hours to 4.5 hours”.  

Earlier, we would just blindly focus what Coaches said but now each player keeps a chart that’s uploaded on to Google docs where the Scientific Advisor Wayne Lombard monitors crucial aspects such as sleep, recovery etc. “Surely, we have become more tech-savvy,”…”We maintain a chart that has details of what we do the entire day. We need to mention details of activity we pursue for recovery such as number of minutes spent for massage or ice bath or pool session etc.” We also record the number of hours we sleep. I feel by doing these activities on our own, the coaching staff also inculcated a lot more awareness about how we must take care of our bodies and remain injury free,”  she added.

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Sports

Tours to Argentina, Germany helped players fine tune their game ahead of Olympics: Women’s Hockey Vice Skipper Savita

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Harpal Singh Bedi

New Delhi: Women’s Hockey Team vice captain Savita feels that the recent tours to Argentina and Germany has helped the players in fine tuning their game ahead of the Olympic Games in July, 

“Not having played competitive matches in over a year, we were not sure how we would do against top teams like Argentina and Germany. 

“We had worked a lot on our fitness in the past year and also played a lot of matches amongst each other as well as the Junior Men’s team, but it was only when we played against Argentina did we realize where we really stand in our tactical performance and areas that need improvement ahead of the Olympics,” Savita told Hockey India in Bengaluru.

The experienced goalkeeper was of the view that these two tours also provided much needed exposure to some of the young players in the team, who needed the experience required to play the world’s top teams. 

“Quite a few youngsters got a chance to play in these two tours and this was very important as they would understand and learn the temperament and the level required to do well against such top teams. 

We were also able to try different combinations during the tours and I feel all this will certainly help in the days leading up to the Olympics.” 

Talking about  the Tokyo Olympics Games which is less than four  months away, Savita said. “Every player in the core group is very excitement and are giving their 100 per cent in every session. We have a strong pool of players and each one is very competitive and will be gunning for a place in the final team for the Olympics,” . 

At present in the National Coaching Camp at SAI, Bengaluru, the players are  currently also “working on creating more scoring chances and improving our defence. We are leaving no stone unturned in our preparations

“Players are also  focused on their fitness and conditioning. Fitness  has played a major role in our improvement so far and if we have to do well in Tokyo, fitness will play a crucial role considering the weather conditions over there. ” she added.

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Hockey Women: Indian Juniors hold Chile Senior Team to a 2-2 draw

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  • Gagandeep Kaur
  • Deepika

Santiago (Chile): Indian Junior Women’s Hockey Team  put up a  resilient performance to hold Chile Senior Team to a 2-2 draw here at the Prince of Wales Country Club on Thursday evening in their fourth match of the Tour 

India’s goal scorers  were Deepika (40′) and Gagandeep Kaur (55′) who led  visitors  fightback after  the hosts  had twice taken the lead through goals from Mariana del Jesus Lagos (21′) and Fernanda Villagran (51′).

Indian colts started the match brightly, as they tried to penetrate Chile’s defence, but could not find a clear opportunity inside the first 15 minutes. On the other hand, 

Chile tried to push their rivals on the counter attacks, with their tactic paying off in the second quarter.

It was in the 21st minute that Chile’s Mariana del Jesus Lagos found herself with enough time and space in front of goal to get her shot away, and give her side an important lead in the match. India were quick to fight back, and tried to take control of proceedings to find the equalizing goal before the half-time break, but came up against some resolute defending from the hosts as Chile maintained their one goal advantage.

A charged up Indian team took to the field in the third quarter, and were able to create a lot more going forward. 

After having been denied from multiple Penalty Corners, the Indians finally found the equalizer in the 40th minute through Deepika, who finished off a beautiful team goal to make it 1-1. 

However, Chile did not get bogged down after conceding, and tried to look for an opportunity again in the match to take the lead. It was in the 51st minute that their efforts were rewarded, as the umpire awarded them a Penalty Stroke for an infringement by India inside the striking circle. It was Chile’s Fernanda Villagran who converted from the spot to restore the hosts’ one-goal advantage.

A late fightback from India resulted in another equalizer being scored, with Chile conceding a Penalty Stroke this time after their player was found to be infringing the rules inside the striking circle. 

Gagandeep Kaur stepped up to take the resulting stroke, and slotted it past Chile’s Goalkeeper to make it 2-2 in the 55th minute.

Both teams tried to look for an opening in the last five minutes, but the goal never came for either, and the two teams finished level at 2-2.
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India, Sports

Women Hockey Team’s preparation for Olympics is on right track: Defender Salima Tete

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Harpal Singh Bedi 

New Delhi: Women’s Hockey Team Defender Salima Tete, feels   that Indian team’s preparations for the Tokyo Olympics were on the right track. 

“Preparation is very important for any tournament and we want to be well prepared for the Olympics especially.” The defender told Hockey India in Bengaluru   “The team is shaping up very well at the moment and we are on the right track as far as our preparation for the Olympics is concerned, “she said adding “We are extremely happy to be carrying out sports activities.We couldn’t have begun our preparations if Hockey India and SAI didn’t put all the procedures in place brilliantly.    

Tete said that she is very fortunate to be playing alongside senior players such as Deep Grace Ekka and Gurjit Kaur.  “It’s the best time to be a youngster in the Indian team. There are so many experienced players who are always there to guide and help us with our games. I am very fortunate to be playing with these seniors. I have learned a lot from them and I am certain that there’s so much more left to learn as well”.

The defender who was part of India’s triumphant campaign at the FIH Series Finals Hiroshima and Olympic Qualifiers maintained that she is determined to be a consistent performer for the national side in the next few years.  

The 18-year-old added that 2019 was the most important year of her career. “The year will remain the most important years for me. I became a regular member of the Indian side last year and I was very fortunate to be part of key victories at Hiroshima and in Olympic Qualifiers.   

I am very determined to keep improving my game and be a consistent performer for the national side in the next few years. I feel consistency is very important for any athlete and it’s my biggest priority,” Tete added. 

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