x

Like our Facebook Page

   
Early Times Newspaper Jammu, Leading Newspaper Jammu
 
Breaking News :   (JKDFA) expresses deep concern over the devastating impact of the recent heavy rains and flooding | Motor Vehicle Tax shouldn't be levied if vehicle not used in 'Public Place': SC | Delhi police arrests 2 Nigerian nationals with 248 Gm cocaine; fake passports, visas seized | Rotary club distributes relief material | High Court gives additional charge of Bandipora Court to Munsiff Gurez | DM Doda reviews relief, restoration efforts, issues urgent directions | Doda police saves 8 precious lives in a night long rescue operation in river Chenab | Soldier killed in accidental fire in Ganderbal | PM's words of praise boosts local hero Mohsin Ali who set Dal Lake ablaze during KIWSF | India looks at sealing two mega submarine deals after long wait | Significant improvement in cement dispatches from NFR | Senior CPIM Workers from Hadigam Kulgam Join SBSP at Head Office | UP to form a dedicated welfare board for nomadic tribes: CM Yogi | DC Kathua inspects protection works along Ravi River bank at Lakhanpur | DC Ramban, SSP take stock of situation at landslide hit Sarbagni, arrangements at lodgement Centre | Drug peddler arrested by Samba police with 1 kg Ganja like substance | Power shut down | Yogi govt links 13 lakh families to Zero Poverty campaign in 10 months | Lalleshwari Yogini's Birthday Celebrated with Great Religious and Spiritual Fervour | Man held with 3.50 kg heroin in Jalandhar | Red alert issued for extremely heavy rains in 4-6 Himachal districts till Tuesday | Old Age Home leads sustained flood relief drive in Jammu | Delhi: 2 missing boys found dead in canal | DDC Doda reviews damages to crops, livestock due to heavy rains, Issues directions for immediate relief measures | DB says enough is enough, orders regularization after 30 Years | Honesty is mandatory, not optional, in Army enrolment: DB | Health Department conducts awareness, relief activities in flood-affected areas of Bhaderwah | SKUAST-TAJ felicitates Dr NP Thakur on his superannuation | RBI Deputy Governor Rao flags off a walkathon on cyber security awareness | Jharkhand: 2 Maoists arrested, arms recovered | CM Sukhu reviews flood situation in Himachal, asks chief secretary to expedite relief work | “Trusted Banking for a Better Tomorrow : Bank of India’s Vision | Self -Learning is the Future of Management and Education | Donald Trump’s Daadagiri | Vaishno Devi Yatra remains suspended for 6th day | DSEJ orders safety audit of all school buildings | Every effort being put to restore Jammu-Srinagar highway: CM Omar | Rains, landslide hit highway restoration | JKBOSE postpones exams | Threat of glacial lake outburst floods looms over Kishtwar | ‘HM Shah visiting J&K solely to assess flood damage’ | Power Department working on war footing to rectify tilted tower; complete power restoration in Jammu Region expected by today evening | BJP Minority Morcha listens to PM’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ | PM Modi stands firm on India’s Unity, progress amid US Trade Tariff challenges: Rohiin Chandan | Warm send off accorded to retiring employees | IWC New Gen Jammu spreads joy, care | Baldev Billawaria releases Qawwali “Murshid Ki Shaan” | Satwik-Chirag pair signs off with bronze at World Championships | Azharuddeen to lead South Zone in Duleep Trophy semifinals | Game time was in focus more than performance in Duleep: Parag tries to chart India comeback | Ayush Badoni's double hundred dots North Zone's Duleep Trophy semifinal entry | Had I won a medal in Paris, I might have retired from boxing: Lovlina Borgohain | Natrang theatre Jammu dogri play ‘Diary Kuse Loknath Di’ | 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