India women’s team failed to reach the quarter-finals at the World Cup 2022 after losing their must-win crossover match 0-1 to Spain. India will play in the 9th to 16th placing match on July 12.
Former India men’s team captain Viren Rasquinha on Monday expressed his disappointment after the national women’s hockey team failed to reach the quarter-finals at the World Cup 2022.
India women’s team suffered a heart-break as they lost to Spain 0-1 in their must-win crossover match on Sunday. A disappointed Rasquinha came out in support of the women’s side and went on to do an analysis of the team.
The CEO of the Olympic Gold Quest, Rasquinha, shared the positives and the things that the women’s team has to improve on.
Really disappointing to lose 0-1 to Spain and miss out on the QF of #HWC2022. The womens hockey team needs our support now. The journey to become a consistent world top 4 team takes at least a decade. Look at Belgium or the Indian men. My advice – just stay mentally strong 1/6,” Rasquinha tweeted.
Tried to calmly analyse the overall performance and see the positives and things to improve so here goes. Positives: 1. Great overall fitness & work rate; 2. Decent structure in defence; 3. Excellent individual skills; 4. World class Keeper; 5. Can maintain High tempo throughout 2/6.
Things to improve on: 1. Hockey is all about scoring goals. If you don’t score, too hard to survive 60 mins; 2. PCs – much more sharpness between pusher, stopper & flicker. Gives Gurjit a split second more > higher probability of scoring 3/6.
Things to improve contd. 3. If direct PCs conversion rate improves, then gives a better chance of scoring through indirect variations as defence always mentally focuses on saving the direct flick first; 4. Need more bench strength to challenge the top 15-16 women 4/6.
Things to improve on contd. 5. For me always the most important point – Learning to release the ball & choose the right option at the right time. All the skills in the world in hockey don’t matter if you can’t pick out the right pass when it really matters 5/6.
Just a thought: Given that we have struggled to score in this World Cup, it could be a good idea to get Dhanraj Pillay in to take a 2-3 day coaching workshop just for our forwards. One of the main reasons why he was so good was just his composure and cleverness in the ‘D’ 6/6,” Rasquinha concluded.
India women’s team will take on Canada in the 9th to 16th placing match on July 12.
