She captained India to a bronze medal end within the 2013 Girls's Junior Hockey World Cup and veteran Sushila Chanu feels the Salima Tete-led facet has the potential to go two steps additional and declare a maiden gold within the version that begins on Friday.
The Indian staff will start its marketing campaign in Pool D in opposition to Wales on Saturday in Potchefstroom, South Africa earlier than taking over formidable Germany on Sunday.
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The Indians will then tackle Malaysia of their remaining pool match earlier than the quarterfinal spherical which begins on April 8.
"It is a actually tight-knit group with wonderful understanding between one another on the sphere, and off area as properly. They've educated collectively as a bunch for a very long time, and even performed apply matches in opposition to the senior ladies's staff within the nationwide camp at SAI Bengaluru and Bhubaneswar during which they've contested properly," Sushila mentioned.
"The group additionally consists of gamers who've represented the senior staff on the large stage just like the Olympics. These causes lead me to consider that the Indian junior staff is a robust contender for the gold medal." Sushila was referring to the trio of skipper Tete, midfielder Sharmila Devi and striker Lalremsiami, who have been a part of the senior staff that completed fourth on the Tokyo Olympics.
Halfback Sushila, one of many core group gamers within the Indian ladies's staff, rose to prominence throughout the nationwide setup following the bronze medal end in 2013 in Monchengladbach, Germany.
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"We had the time of our lives throughout that Junior World Cup marketing campaign. We have been so younger and carefree on the time, however every one among us was utterly focussed on utilizing that competitors as a platform to enhance on our abilities individually, and as a staff," she recalled in Hockey India's podcast 'Hockey Te Charcha'.
"Our communication throughout the staff was so robust on the time. It was one of many key causes behind our success within the Junior World Cup.
"Successful that medal was the largest achievement of my life. I'll always remember that recreation and that second once we secured victory.
The penalty shootouts have been happening, and everybody within the staff was huddled collectively within the centre of the pitch and we have been all praying collectively. After successful the match that day, we have been all overjoyed. That marketing campaign was actually unforgettable."
