x

Like our Facebook Page

   
Early Times Newspaper Jammu, Leading Newspaper Jammu
 
Breaking News :   New freight train service big step for Kashmir apple growers: LG Sinha | LG attends closing ceremony of ‘Jashn-e-Dal’ | Will take up restoration of Jmu-Sgr highway with Union Minister: CM Omar | Cloudburst triggers flash floods in Reasi, no casualties | Day 21: Vaishno Devi Yatra remains suspended | Fruit growers’ union delegation meets LG | Doda: Educational institutions reopen after 3 weeks | Fraudster impersonating LG’s duty officer held in Rs 50 lakh scam: CBK | PM Modi lays foundation stone of projects worth around Rs 40,000 crore in Bihar | PM Inaugurates 16th armed forces’ conference at Eastern Command HQ | ITR filing deadline ends | DC Budgam calls for stronger enforcement & rehabilitation measures | DYSSO Samba launches major Inter-Zonal Sports tournament | Modi’s Governance: Gujarat Model to Bharatiya Model | Safety of Indians in America | Celebrating National Hindi Diwas | Parcel Train | FICCI FLO JKL rolls out Phase-4 of flood relief efforts in Jammu | Kuch Din Toh Aaiyein Ladakh Mein: LG Kavinder appeals in Navi Mumbai | Give your best to steer our nation ahead in growth & development: DyCM | MLA Sham Lal Sharma Pays Tribute to Sir M. Visvesvaraya on Engineers Day | Power shut down in several areas | Parcel cargo train from Kashmir to Adarsh Nagar Delhi flagged off | Javid Dar reviews status of NH-44 restoration | Only Aadhaar-authenticated users can book online general tickets in first 15 mins from Oct 1: Railways | DC Srinagar convenes DLSCC meeting | MLA Poonch, Ajaz Ahmed Jan offer condolences | Pakistan's terror nexus exposed again at UNSC: Gaurav | Randhawa reviews preparations at Bawe Wali Mata Mandir | Itoo flags off Dental Awareness Rally on Oral health hygiene | MLA Arvind Gupta inaugurates long-pending drain work at Rajpura | Boy injured in landmine blast in Anantnag, dies | Indian Army's first exclusive freight train on USBRL marks breakthrough | Punjab police busts cross-border weapon smuggling module with links to Pak | WPI inflation turns positive after 2 months, at 0.52% in August | SC to pass order on Sept 26 in suo motu case over lack of functional CCTVs in police stations | On Engineer's Day GCET Jammu inaugurates two-week induction programme | Crackdown on illegal mining continue on 2nd day | Ramban police recovers 30 lost mobile phones | Ravinder visits rain affected areas of Sunderbani, seeks relief, restorations on war footing | AIIMS Bathinda reaffirms zero tolerance for unethical practices | Indian Army organised interaction with prominent locals, media at Samote | JKEDI launches 3rd batch of Management Development Programs | GDC Bishnah celebrates Hindi Diwas in collaboration with J&K Rashtriya Bhasha Prachar Samiti | YCET conducts Induction Program | CCI raise serious issue of infrastructure crises | GCOE Jammu celebrates Hindi Diwas | MCM celebrates Hindi Diwas with fervour | Dogra Degree College celebrates Hindi Diwas | IIM Jammu hosts valedictory xeremony of Management Development Program on Corporate Governance | 3 cab drivers booked for violating traffic advisory, overcharging | Doda Police urges public to combat fake news, misinformation | PM Modi at 75: A legacy of vision, valor, Nation-Building: Rohiin Chandan | IRCS J&K provides relief material to flood-affected | JKAACL Jammu organizes one day symposium | Principal Secretary, Culture inaugurates hindi Pakhwada at K.L. Saigal Hall | SP North Vivek Shekhar Sharma releases devotional bhajan “Lad Fadeya Mahamai Da” | IGNOU Jammu successfully concludes Swachhata Pakhwada, reaffirming commitment to cleanliness | Back Issues  
 
news details
FIH Men's Hockey World Cup 2023 Preview: India eye first podium finish in 48 years as they play Spain in Opener
1/12/2023 11:02:51 PM
agencies
NEW DELHI, Jan 12: A historic bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics bringing them back among the international elite, India will seek their first podium finish in 48 years in the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup as they begin their campaign against Spain in a tricky match here on Friday. A medal in this showpiece will strengthen the claim that the former giants of the game with eight Olympic gold have turned the corner in world hockey.
The country won a bronze in the inaugural tournament in 1971 and clinched a silver in the next edition in 1973. Ajit Pal Singh led the side to title triumph in 1975 but since then they have failed to even reach the semifinals.
From 1978 to 2014, India could not go past the group stage.
The Indian team, no doubt, would be one of the medal contenders with the talented bunch led by Harmanpreet Singh emerging as a force to reckon with. The team has earned respect from other top countries in recent times.
Currently ranked sixth in the world, India have come into the tournament after an impressive show against the world number one side Australia in an away five-match series though they lost the rubber 1-4.
Graham Reid's side matched the Australians, one of the favourites to win the World Cup, in most departments of the game, notching up their first win in six years against their formidable opponents.
In the previous edition, also held in Bhubaneswar, India had exited at the quarterfinal stage after losing to the Netherlands, the eventual runners-up, and they would be looking to reach at least the semifinals this time. India have also done well in the FIH Hockey Pro League, finishing third in the 2021-22 season. The confidence and the winning mentality is back with the team.
Since Reid took over the head coach's position in 2019, India's stature has grown. He has been able to get the best out of the players, injecting a tactical discipline to their trademark skillful, fluid playing style, making them a team that is respected and feared in equal measure.
"We focussed mainly on scenarios in our training, what if we are 0-1 down, what if we are playing with 10 men, what if they take their keeper off. Those types of scenarios which are important that we have dealt with," Reid said.
Captain and FIH Player of the Year Harmanpreet Singh, a fabulous defender and one of the best drag flickers in the game, will be key to India's success while goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, mid-field ace Manpreet Singh and Hardik Singh, and striker Mandeep Singh are all capable of bringing about game-changing moments.
Defender Amit Rohidas, who has captained the team in the past and also takes penalty corners, and forward Akashdeep Singh will be among the other India players to watch out for.
Reid said he wants to take some pressure off captain Harmanpreet, who is also a defensive bulwark.
India will hope to begin with a win, as that result can help them top Pool D for a direct quarterfinal berth and avoid playing cross-over matches (meant for second and third place teams of each of each of the four pools).
  Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network  
  Comment on this Story  
 
 
 
Early Times Android App
STOCK UPDATE
  
BSE Sensex
NSE Nifty
 
CRICKET UPDATE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
Home About Us Top Stories Local News National News Sports News Opinion Editorial ET Cetra Advertise with Us ET E-paper
 
 
J&K RELATED WEBSITES
J&K Govt. Official website
Jammu Kashmir Tourism
JKTDC
Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board
Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board
Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board
UTILITY
Train Enquiry
IRCTC
Matavaishnodevi
BSNL
Jammu Kashmir Bank
State Bank of India
PUBLIC INTEREST
Passport Department
Income Tax Department
JK CAMPA
JK GAD
IT Education
Web Site Design Services
EDUCATION
Jammu University
Jammu University Results
JKBOSE
Kashmir University
IGNOU Jammu Center
SMVDU