New Delhi: Indian women’s hockey team skipper Rani Rampal feels that the Spain tour will provide a good platform for youngsters to make the cut for the World Cup squad and give the team a last chance to implement new changes in its game. A 20-member Indian team left for the Spain tour Saturday from the Indira Gandhi International Airport here Saturday.
The team led by Rani will play five matches against the home team Spain starting June 12 in Madrid as part of their preparations for the World Cup in London next month.
“The youngsters did really well in the Asian Champions Trophy and in Spain matches if they can have a consistent performance then they stand a good chance to draw the national selectors’ attention ahead of the much-important Women’s World Cup London 2018 next month,” Rani said before their departure.
Rani, who is back in the squad after being rested for the recently-held Vth Women’s Asian Champions Trophy in Korea, insisted that travelling with a 20-member squad will also ensure that the players are fresh for the tournament next month where they will begin their campaign against hosts and Olympic Champions England.
“It is very important to stay fresh ahead of the mega event in London. With a 20-member squad, chief coach will have the option of rotating the players often,” Rani added.
“This tour in Spain will help us work on the areas that we lacked during the Asian Champions Trophy. I personally felt that we played an attacking game, and kept the momentum up throughout the event but in the final we missed a lot of scoring opportunities and could not defend well enough against Korea’s high ball/ scoops,” she added.
