FIH Olympic Qualifiers: India will have to achieve a big win against Italy, Indian women’s hockey team will try to make it to the semi-finals.

The Indian women’s hockey team has made a great comeback after losing to America in the first match of the HIF Hockey Olympic Qualifier. After which, on Sunday, the Indian women’s team registered a spectacular victory by defeating New Zealand 3-1. Now India will face Italy on Tuesday. Against which the Indian team will have to register a big win.

Actually, the Indian women’s hockey team will try to make it to the semi-finals of the FIH Women’s Olympic Qualifier by registering a big win against Italy. After failing to qualify through the Asian Games, this is the last chance for the Indian team to make it to this year’s Olympic Games. The top three teams in this tournament will qualify for the Paris Olympics.

#WATCH , Indian women hockey team beat New Zealand 3-1 in Olympic Qualifiers in Ranchi

Captain of the Indian women’s hockey team Savita Punia says, ” I said yesterday as well that I have faith in my team, maybe yesterday was not our day. We couldn’t play our game properly and by… pic.twitter.com/P6N12qiylL

— ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2024

America is on top of Pool B after winning two matches, while India and New Zealand have three points each. However, the Indian team is behind New Zealand in goal difference.

In such a situation, India will have to register a big win against the Italian team ranked 20th in the world. The first two placed teams from both the pools will make it to the semi-finals. The semi-finals will be played on Thursday. If the Indian team performed poorly in its opening match against America, then it played brilliantly in the next match against New Zealand. The team will now try to maintain this momentum against Italy. The Indian team showed great coordination in the defence, middle line and front line against New Zealand.

Coach Yanek Schopman will be hopeful that the team will perform similarly in the next match. India’s biggest problem is not being able to convert penalty corners into goals. He has taken 13 penalty corners in two matches so far but has managed to score only one of them. Italy have lost both their matches so far and are out of the race to qualify but their team can become a hurdle in India’s path and hence Savita Punia’s team will not make the mistake of taking their opponent lightly.

Indian coach Schopman, while instructing his players to be cautious against Italy, said, “This match can be tough because the Italian team also plays an adventurous game like Argentina.” We have to maintain patience. We have to convert penalty corners into goals at any cost.” It is an advantage for India that it has to play its match after the match between America and New Zealand. This will make the picture clear in front of him as to how much margin he has to win.