Indian Women’s Hockey Team | Indian women’s hockey team will play its first match against China on Sunday on Germany tour

Limburg (Germany): The Indian women’s hockey team will look to boost their chances of qualifying for the Asian Games when they take on China in their first match on Sunday on the tour of Germany. The preparations will have to be implemented by removing the flaws. The Indian team will play three matches in this tour. After China, the team will play two matches against Germany on July 18 and 19 in Wiesbaden and Russelheim respectively. The tour assumes great significance for the Indian women sportspersons as it will give them an opportunity to assess themselves ahead of the Asian Games to be held in Hangzhou, China from September 23 to October 8. The Indian team, led by goalkeeper Savita Punia, will get a chance to test China in the first match of the tour. Also read: China’s team will try to use their home soil advantage in the Asian Games. Savita said, “This tour is of great importance for the Indian women as they will be able to assess themselves ahead of the continental games to be held in Hangzhou, China from 23 September to 8 October. This will tell us where we need to improve.” If we look at the rankings before this match, then the eighth-ranked Indian team will be a contender to win over the 11th-ranked Chinese team. The last time both the teams met each other at the FIH Women’s World Cup (2022) in Spain and the Netherlands, the match ended in a 1-1 draw. The two teams have met 17 times since the 2013 Women’s Asia Cup, with India emerging victorious on 10 occasions, while China have won five and drawn two. Indian vice-captain Deep Grace said, “We know our opponents very well. We have competed against China many times recently. We know what they are capable of. This match will give us an opportunity to prepare ourselves better. India head coach Yanke Schoppmann wants the players to stick to the team’s plans and play to their strengths on the tour. He said, “We had organized the camp before the tour. We are aware of the strong side of the team. Both China and Germany have strong and balanced teams. “We will continue to play to our strengths and stick to our plans,” Shopman said. We hope to get good results on the tour.