Eyes set on podium finishes at this yr's Birmingham Commonwealth Video games, the Indian males's and girls's hockey group coaches are trying on the upcoming FIH Professional League matches to achieve higher insights concerning the sides forward of the multi-sport occasion.
The Indian males's group is scheduled to play its subsequent spherical of FIH Professional League matches towards hosts Belgium (June 11 and June 12) and the Netherlands (June 18 and June 19), whereas the ladies's aspect will play Belgium (June 11 and June 12), Argentina (June 18 and June 19) and america (June 21 and June 22).
"With little lower than two months for the CWG, we are going to utilise this time to make sure we're finest ready for the celebrated occasion. The Professional League matches will give us insights into the areas that require enchancment forward of the CWG," Indian males's group chief coach Reid stated in a Hockey India assertion.
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"We are going to reconvene the nationwide camp for CWG within the final week of June and we could have good three weeks to organize earlier than the contingent leaves for Birmingham."
Reid feels with the perimeter gamers doing properly, there's a wholesome competitors to safe locations within the Birmingham-bound squad. "There may be an air of optimism among the many gamers and doing properly in Belgium and Netherlands will give us the precise momentum forward of the Commonwealth Video games in July," Reid stated.
"With the Asia Cup group doing properly too, our depth of gamers has solely elevated, making the group choice course of for main tournaments all of the extra robust and attention-grabbing," he added.
Indian ladies's hockey group chief coach Janneke Schopman agreed with Reid, stating that the upcoming FIH Professional League matches are essential for Commonwealth Video games' preparation.
"The subsequent few weeks are positively going to be difficult and thrilling as we play common matches in June and July main as much as the CWG. Again-to-back Professional League matches will certainly give us the understanding of how the gamers' our bodies are reacting to restoration and being prepared for a recreation inside 24 hours," stated Schopman.
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Schopman stated having narrowly missed a podium place within the 2018 CWG in Jakarta, the Indian ladies are eying a medal in Birmingham. "Doing properly at each the Professional League and the World Cup is our quick precedence. The group in 2018 CWG completed fourth so positively a podium end is on the minds of the gamers," the previous Dutch participant stated.
The Indian ladies's subsequent massive task after the upcoming Professional League matches is the FIH Girls's World Cup to be collectively hosted by Spain and the Netherlands from July 1 to 17.
Within the Birmingham CWG, the Indian males are positioned in Pool B alongside England, Canada, Ghana and Wales whereas the ladies too are grouped together with England, Ghana, Canada and Wales in Pool A.
