News Analysis India

Tag: indian hockey team

  • TNIE Impact: Indian hockey star Salima Tete’s village gets TV to watch her Olympic semifinal

    Express News Service
    RANCHI: Finally, a day before the Olympic Hockey semifinals in Tokyo, District Administration installed a new TV set at the native village of Salima Tete, who made Jharkhand proud by becoming a part of the national team that made history in Japan

    The report was published first by The New Indian Express that Tete’s family members and other villagers were not able to watch her matches due to lack of TV set and mobile connectivity at her native place in Simdega.

    According to District Sports Officer Tushar Roy, a brand new 43-inch smart TV along with a set-top box has been installed at the house of Salima Tete so that her family members and others could watch the semifinal match on Wednesday.

    “Even though Salima made her way to the Indian women’s hockey team for the Tokyo Olympics, her parents and other villagers were not able to watch her playing due to lack of TV set in the village. Simdega Deputy Commissioner Sushant Gaurav directed me to get a TV set installed at her house so that they could also watch her playing on Wednesday,” said Roy.

    “According to DC Sir, it will also inspire others in the district,” said the Sports Officer.

    Salima hails from Badkichapar village in Simdega, one of the worst Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected districts in Jharkhand, None of the 45 households here have a TV set.

    According to Salima’s younger sister Mahima Tete, who is also a national levelhockey player they try to search for internet connectivity by moving here and there impatiently inside and even outside the village during matches but all in vain. She wished that some arrangement could be done by the district administration so that she and her parents, along with the other villagers, could watch her sister playing the matches.

    She thanked the district administration for understanding their pain and providing a TV set for them. Notably, Mahima, through TNIE had appealed the district administration to provide at least LED screen for them so that the villagers could cheer up Salima in the Olympics.

  • Buoyant Rani looking forward to Tokyo challenge

    Express News Service
    BENGALURU: The Indian women’s hockey team did not win a single game (four losses and one draw) in Rio 2016. It did not come as a big surprise considering it was their first Olympics in 36 years. But, five years down the line, there cannot be much room for excuses in Tokyo. Several of their players, including Rani Rampal, who will lead the 16-member squad, Savita, Ekka Deep Grace, Sushila Chanu havemuch-needed Olympic experience to deliver the goods.

    But, it will not be any easier with teams like Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands and others in their pool. It is going to be a big test and there is no denying Rani and co will be under pressure to shine on the grandest stage of all.   

    “Pressure is going to be there on any athlete, even if the person has won a medal in the Olympics. It is like an examination, no matter how much you study and go, there is bound to be anxiety. The same happens with the athlete, but the thing is we need to know how to handle it,” said skipper Rani during a virtualmedia interaction on Thursday.

    However, one cannot just depend on the senior players of the squad. They have to work as a unit alongside Olympic debutants, including Gurjit Kaur, Udita and Navneet Kaur. If both  forces combine, they could come up with good results. “We are going to perform well in the Olympics. Actually, it is a good thing some of the players have experienced the Olympics and some are making their Olympics debut. All the players have to bring their quality and as a team, we will have to play in the Olympics,” she said.

    The Games, which is going to be different from the past editions, brings in a fresh set of challenges due to Covid-19. Players will be regularly tested. They have to follow all the protocols in place. What makes it even more difficult is the fact how the teams’ preparations were hit by the pandemic. They could not test themselves regularly against top sides but they have worked hard.

    “The mood is good around the team. Everyone is excited. We have put in a lot of effort so far for the past few years. Normally, it is a four-year cycle, but this is five years. There was an extra year. As an athlete that one year, it is not easy to push the player mentally and physically. But the coaching staff helped us so much especially during the Covid times….. We are going to the Olympics for the second time (in succession) and we have the belief that we will do well,” said Rani, who also believes that fitness-wise, India are no less than any other team.

  • Asian Games: Hockey India, Malaysia defeated in semi-finals

    Asian Games current champion defeated Malaysia 6-7 in penalty shootout from the semi-finals of India. Earlier, both the teams were equal to 2-2 in the full-time. India’s performance in the whole Asian Games was fantastic. India scored a total of 76 goals in the Asian Games 2018 and was at top of Group A.

    Before this, India has lost in the Azlan Shah Cup in addition to the 2017 World Cup from Malaysia. There was not a single goal from both the sides till half time. At the time of the first quarter, Malaysia had taken the lead on India, but India took video referrals and the Malaysian goal was dismissed. After this, the Indian hockey team showed great game and at the moment has taken 2-1 lead in the match. Varun had scored the second goal for India through penalty corner.

    The Indian hockey team’s performance in the Asian Games was so spectacular India defeated Hong Kong 26-0, Indonesia 17-0, Japan 8-0 and Sri Lanka 20-0. At the same time, India had beaten Korea 5-3 in the quarterfinals.

    India-Malaysia have so far played 102 matches, in which 70 matches have been won by the Indian team, while Malaysia has won 14 times. On the other hand, there are 18 remaining draws.