Ranchi, 17th January 2024: The Indian Women’s Hockey Team gears up to confront Germany in the Semi-Final of the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers Ranchi 2024 after securing a 5-1 triumph over Italy in the final Pool B match. A victory in the Semi-Finals secures the Indian team’s qualification for the Paris Olympics 2024.
Despite a challenging start with a 0-1 loss to the USA in the group stage, the team rebounded impressively, defeating New Zealand 3-1 in a must-win match. Their confidence soared with a convincing 5-1 victory over Italy in the final group stage game, propelling them into the Semi-Finals on a positive note.
Expressing confidence ahead of the crucial Semi-Final, Captain Savita stated, “We’ve faced Germany before and performed well. Our team has strong attacking capabilities, and we aim to deliver a solid performance. We need to focus on our defense against a formidable team like Germany and capitalize on any scoring opportunities.”
Ranked sixth globally, the Indian Women’s Hockey Team is set to clash with the fifth-ranked Germany, eyeing Olympic qualification. Despite Germany’s higher ranking and a less favorable head-to-head record, the Indian team draws inspiration from their hard-fought win in the 2021-22 FIH Hockey Pro League against Germany in March 2022.
Chief Coach Janneke Schopman emphasized, “Germany boasts talented players, but our quality side has demonstrated resilience under pressure. The Semi-Finals will be treated like a Final, and we will give our best shot.”
The highly anticipated Semi-Final between India and Germany is scheduled for 18th January at 1930 hrs IST.
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