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Indian Hockey Teams Chase Asian Games Gold, Olympic Qualification
India’s men’s and women’s hockey teams are competing at the Asian Games.
They want to win gold medals.
The article says a gold medal would provide direct qualification for the Olympics, although it refers to Paris in one section and Los Angeles in another.
The men are defending their previous Asian Games title.
They hope to improve after finishing eighth at the recent World Cup.
The women are feeling confident after finishing fifth at the World Cup.
China is expected to be their toughest opponent.
Coaches Craig Fulton and Sjoerd Marijne want their players to learn from the past and focus on playing well.
India’s men’s and women’s hockey teams are targeting Asian Games gold and direct Olympic qualification.
The men’s team will defend its title after finishing eighth at the recent World Cup.
Japan and South Korea are identified as major challenges for the Indian men.
The women’s team enters after its best World Cup finish in 52 years, taking fifth place.
China is the main threat to India’s women, who seek their second Asian Games gold.
- Who
- India’s men’s and women’s hockey teams, coached by Craig Fulton and Sjoerd Marijne.
- What
- They are competing for Asian Games gold and stated direct qualification for an Olympic Games.
- Where
- At the Asian Games; the article also refers to the men’s team playing in Japan and mentions the Hangzhou Asian Games.
- When
- The men’s campaign is scheduled to begin against Indonesia, followed by matches from September 22 to September 28; the women’s campaign begins against Uzbekistan, with further matches from September 21 to September 27.
- Why
- Winning gold is presented as the route to direct Olympic qualification, while both teams also seek to build on or recover from recent international results.
India’s Medal Case
Asian Rivals’ Challenge
Men’s tournament outlook
India’s Medal Case
India is the highest-ranked team, has historically dominated Pakistan, Japan and Malaysia, and will defend its title.
Asian Rivals’ Challenge
Japan and South Korea are described as the men’s main pool-stage tests, while India must address weaknesses exposed by its World Cup performance.
Women’s tournament outlook
India’s Medal Case
India’s fifth-place World Cup finish, solid defense against China and recent results against South Korea and Japan support its medal hopes.
Asian Rivals’ Challenge
China is ranked fourth in the world, won silver at the Paris Olympics according to the article, and is considered the strongest threat.
Key facts
- Men’s ranking
- India is ranked eighth in the world and is the highest-ranked team in the men’s competition.
- Men’s recent result
- India finished eighth at the recent FIH World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium.
- Men’s title record
- India is a four-time Asian Games men’s champion and the reigning champion.
- Women’s recent result
- India finished fifth at the recent World Cup, described as its best finish in 52 years.
- Women’s main rival
- China is ranked fourth in the world and is identified as India’s biggest threat.
- Women’s gold record
- India’s women have won the Asian Games gold medal once, in 1982.
- Olympic qualification
- The article says Asian Games gold would secure direct Olympic qualification, referring to Paris in one section and Los Angeles in another.
Quotes
Sjoerd Marijne
Chief coach of India’s women’s hockey team
“These (World Cup outing) are lessons, and the only way to treat them as lessons learned is to turn that learning into action. That's what we've got to do now. We've discussed everything, gone through everything and highlighted areas needing improvement. At the same time, it's now about action.”
rediff.com
rediff.com
“We did something remarkable and historical, but we have to move on to the next tournament You have to close a chapter before you move to the next one.”
rediff.com
rediff.com
Sources
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