India hope to weather Russian challenge

In contrast to the men’s team for the qualifiers, where everything was to their liking except the final result, the women’s team is also battling the pressure of being scrutinised for their performance, carrying the hopes of a nation in the national sport. But with conditions like these, things are not easy for them. Despite having reached the venue almost 10 days in advance to acclimatise, the team is still struggling to get used to the wind and rains.

“We are not complaining, but I think such extreme weather should have been considered before deciding on the venues,” added Kaushik. “We are still trying to work out how to keep the girls warm during the match. We will be getting them gloves etc. but there is no denying that the conditions favour the competition,” he added.

While the team from United States was considered the strongest opponent for India, the extreme weather has put India at a further disadvantage vis-à-vis other teams as well. In addition, India’s strike spearhead Surinder Kaur suffered a cut during practice. Her absence due to injuries in recent times affected India’s attack to a large extent. But Kaushik insisted she would play tomorrow. “She got stitches behind her ear, but she is fine now. We cannot afford to sit her out against Russia,” he said.

Despite all this, the Indian team has managed to win all their practice matches, and that should give them confidence. If, battling all odds, they manage to start their campaign with a win, it would go a long way in boosting their morale. “These girls have proved earlier that they can deliver under pressure. I hope they can do it again,” he said.