Top-six finish at WC will

The two exposure trips of the Indian women8217;s hockey team 8212; a six-match tournament in the Netherlands and a four-Test series against South Africa...

The two exposure trips of the Indian women8217;s hockey team 8212; a six-match tournament in the Netherlands and a four-Test series against South Africa 8212; might not have got the desired results in terms of victories. But team coach MK Kaushik is not reading much into the results there.

8220;In the Netherlands we played against three teams who are ranked higher than us and it was a good exposure trip for the team and even against South Africa. Though we lost three matches and drew one, it was not as if we lost by huge margins. All matches were close and could have swung either way,8221; he told The Indian Express.

He said the matches provided a chance to assess the team. 8220;In both tournaments we gave chance to youngsters in match situations as couple of our main players were undergoing rehabilitation back in India,8221; he said.

Further, he said that the experience of playing against Holland was helpful as the World Cup opener was against them. 8220;The newcomers in the team need more exposure and the more they play against different teams the more mature they will be. That8217;s why we even played two matches in one day during the tour,8221; Kaushik said.

What about the World Cup? 8220;Ideally we are targeting a top-six finish. This is because we are in a tough pool,8221; he said.

The probables8217; list of 27 was announced today, the team being back from its Singapore trip the four-nation International Challenge Cup. The final camp is in Bhopal from August 14 after which the list will be further pared.

His worry about the fitness of six injured players has also been taken care of. All of them 8212; Sumrai Tete, Harjinder Kaur, Asunta Lakra, Mamta Kharab, Rajwinder Kaur and Gagandeep Kaur 8212; are fit.

WORLD CUP probables

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8226; Goalkeepers: Helen Mary, Dipika Murty, Marita Tirkey, Rajni Bala, Poonam Toppo.

8226; Full backs: Pushpa Pradhan, Binita Toppo, Rajwinder Kaur, Suman Bala.

8226; HALF BACKS: Subhadra Pradhan, Gagandeep Kaur, Sumrai Tete, Sarita Lakra, Nilima Kujur, Harjinder Kaur Kamboj, Guddi Kumari, Asunta Lakra.

8226; Forwards: Sanggai Ibamhal Chanu, Deepika, Saba Anjum, Surinder Kaur, Binita Xess, Ritu Rani, Jasjeet Kaur, Mamta Kharab, Jyoti Sunita Kullu, Joydeep Kaur.

8226; Officials: M.K. Kaushik chief coach, Anurita Saini

assistant coach