National girls hockey team trains for international tournaments

BHOPAL - The Indian girls’ hockey teams are undergoing rigorous training in a national hockey camp organised in Bhopal.

The teams are honing their skills for the upcoming Commonwealth Games, World Cup and even the Asian Games. All three tournaments will take place one after the other between August and November 2010.

However, the coach, M.K. Kaushik, is confident that the team will rise to the occasion. e said that the primary focus is on the players’ fitness quotient, and working on their penalty corner skills.

“There are three competitions which are coming one after another. The Asian Games are soon after the Commonwealth and the World Cup; there is not even a gap of three months. It is difficult for any team to peak in such a short time, given also the pressure involved in these competitions. The focus is to maintain the fitness level during these three months of August, October and November. It’s tough work but we’ll be approaching it scientifically, and we’ll go like that. I expect the response will be good,” he added.

Senior players of the team like Arjuna-award winner Mamta Kharab are satisfied with the team’s recent performances, if not completely happy.

“Those shortcomings which were noticed during the last Asian games and the plus points…we are working on them, while also trying to improve on the shortcomings. Also, those players who couldn’t perform and do what was required of them, we are also working on that,” said Kharab,

The Commonwealth Games of 2010 will be India’s first major international sports event after the 1982 Asian Games. The Games will be held in Delhi from October 3 to 14, 2010. (ANI)