India Women’s Hockey Team Prepares for Asian Champions Trophy in Bihar
The Indian women’s hockey team has arrived in Gaya, Bihar, to participate in the Bihar Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Rajgir 2024. The tournament will take place from November 11 to 20 in the historic town of Rajgir. Defending champions India will compete against teams like China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand.
Team Leadership and Schedule
Led by Captain Salima Tete and Vice-Captain Navneet Kaur, India will start their campaign against Malaysia on November 11, followed by a match against Korea on November 12. After a rest day, they will face Thailand on November 14, China on November 16, and conclude the pool stage against Japan on November 17.
Preparation and Goals
Captain Salima Tete shared that the team has been training rigorously at SAI Bengaluru, focusing on improving their performance in the final third of the pitch. She emphasized the importance of taking each match seriously and inspiring young girls in the region with their performances.
Coaching and Expectations
This tournament marks the first Asian competition for the Indian team under Chief Coach Harendra Singh. He expressed gratitude to the Bihar government and Hockey India for hosting international matches in the state. Singh is confident that fans will see a new side of the team, thanks to their focused preparation over the past five months.
Advancement and Finals
India aims to secure a top-four finish among the six teams to advance to the semi-finals on November 19, with the final scheduled for November 20.
Doubts Revealed
Asian Champions Trophy -: The Asian Champions Trophy is a hockey tournament where teams from Asia compete to see who is the best. It’s like a big sports competition for countries in Asia.
Bihar -: Bihar is a state in India. It’s located in the eastern part of the country and is known for its rich history and culture.
Rajgir -: Rajgir is a town in Bihar, India. It’s famous for its historical and religious significance, and it’s where the hockey tournament will be held.
Salima Tete -: Salima Tete is the captain of the Indian women’s hockey team. She is a leader and helps guide her team during matches.
Navneet Kaur -: Navneet Kaur is the vice-captain of the Indian women’s hockey team. She supports the captain and helps lead the team.
Chief Coach Harendra Singh -: Harendra Singh is the main coach of the Indian women’s hockey team. He trains the players and helps them improve their skills.
SAI Bengaluru -: SAI Bengaluru is a sports training center in Bengaluru, India. SAI stands for Sports Authority of India, which helps athletes train and get better at sports.
final third performance -: In hockey, the ‘final third’ refers to the part of the field near the opponent’s goal. Improving performance here means getting better at scoring goals.
semi-finals -: The semi-finals are the matches before the final in a tournament. Teams that win in the semi-finals get to play in the final match to try and win the tournament.
