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Indian women seek Hockey Olympic berth
The commencement of the Olympic qualifier at Ranchi will also mark the beginning of India’s international hockey season.
Fresh from their triumph in the Asian Champions Trophy, Indian women launch their “mission Paris” on January 13 when they take on the USA in the opening game of the Olympic qualifier in Ranchi.
The commencement of the Olympic qualifier at Ranchi will also mark the beginning of India’s international hockey season.
Last time, it was Bhubaneswar that had helped Indian women qualify for Tokyo Olympic Games after India’s exciting game against the USA in which home team skipper Rani Rampal scored a decisive goal. Indian women finished a credible fourth in the Tokyo Olympic Games while men had returned to the podium with a bronze.
To prepare the Indian women’s team for its acid test, one of top scorers of Tokyo Olympic Games, Rupinder Pal Singh, has been conducting drag flicking camp for Indian Team ahead of FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers Ranchi 2024.
A top drag flicker Rupinder Pal Singh was at SAI Bengaluru to conduct a 5-day drag flicking camp for the Indian Women’s Hockey Team. The camp saw Rupinder Pal assisting the Indian Women’s Hockey Team’s drag flickers, including Deepika and Gurjit Kaur, as it prepares for the crucial Ranchi 2024 test.
The FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers Ranchi 2024 is scheduled to take place in Ranchi from the January 13-19. India are placed in Pool B along with New Zealand, Italy, and the United States. Meanwhile, Pool A consists of Germany, Japan, Chile, and the Czech Republic.
India plays USA on January 13. New Zealand on January 14 and Italy on January 16. Top two teams from each of the two pools of four teams each will qualify for the semi-finals.
Speaking about the drag flicking session, seasoned Indian pro Gurjit Kaur said, “The 5-day drag flicking camp at SAI Bengaluru has proven to be a valuable experience for us. We were learning new things each day and looking to further improve our game by focusing on specific aspects that need refinement. Rupinder has been instrumental in guiding us, and the overall experience has been one of focused intensity.”
Echoing Gurjit’s sentiments, young Indian Women’s Hockey Team forward Deepika said that Rupinder’s experience as a drag-flicker has been invaluable to them. “He shared his insights on the first rushers in today’s game, how they have become fearless and close down on the ball faster than before. To counter this, he advised us to pick up the ball faster. This camp will help us strengthen our penalty corners and give us a better chance to score in the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers Ranchi 2024,” Deepika commented.
Rupinder Pal Singh had scored a whopping 234 goals in 223 appearances for the Indian Men’s Hockey Team before his retirement in 2021. The towering fullback was also an integral part of the team that claimed the Bronze medal in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
“Gurjit and Deepika are exceptional players and drag flickers. They quickly understand and implement my pointers. This crash course will be a fantastic way to brush up on their skills before heading to Ranchi to participate in the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers Ranchi 2024. The whole team seems to be giving their all to ensure they qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics, and I am certain that they will do well in Ranchi,” the ace drag-flicker elaborated on the camp.
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) January 8, 2024
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