Indian junior girls group captain Preeti mentioned that the group have gained rather a lot of confidence since Junior Asia Cup title win and need to carry the identical momentum in the upcoming FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup 2023.
The mega occasion might be held in Santiago, Chile from November 29 to December 10 with 16 groups competing in the event divided into 4 swimming pools.
India are positioned in Pool C together with Germany, Belgium, and Canada. The defending Champions the Netherlands are positioned alongside South Africa, Australia, and Chile in Pool A, whereas Argentina, Korea, Spain, and Zimbabwe type Pool B. England, the United States, New Zealand and Japan are grouped collectively in Pool D.
“We are all quite excited to compete in the tournament. We have gained a lot of confidence since our title win at the Women’s Junior Asia Cup and we wish to carry forward the same momentum. We have been preparing well and have had really good training sessions under Coach Tushar Khandekar. In a short span of time, we have held important discussions about the team’s structure and how we can improve our skills. We are also working on developing in key areas,” Preeti was quoted by Hockey India web site.
India defeated Korea 2-1 in the ultimate of the ladies’s Junior Asia Cup in June to declare the gold medal. The win helped India safe a place on the Junior World Cup 2023.
Preeti says the group is now vying to deliver laurels from the distinguished event the place a medal has been elusive since 2013 when India had secured a Bronze medal.
“After successful campaigns at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, hockey has been regaining prominence once again in the country. Hockey India has also been focusing on the development of players at the grassroots level and a lot of attention is now being also given to the junior teams. This has really boosted the morale of all the players. There are expectations from everyone that we will win a medal this year in Chile. So, we will work hard to fulfil those expectations,” Preeti mentioned.
India had completed in the fourth place on the girls’s Junior World Cup in 2021, after taking place 2-2 (0-3 SO) in a thriller in opposition to England in the bronze medal match. Preeti was a component of the group that had travelled to Potchefstroom, South Africa, and talked about her learnings from the event.
“I was really young the last time and only featured in one match. I feel we used to lose our concentration in the final few minutes of matches in the past which would affect our results. But this has been a big learning for us this year that a game is not over till the final whistle. We know we have to keep similar levels of intensity till the end of the match,” she mentioned.
Preeti, who hails from Sonipat, Haryana, gained curiosity in the game at a younger age when she was finding out in the sixth class. Belonging to a small city, Preeti noticed enjoying hockey as a way for her to go exterior her house and spend time along with her buddies. At her family, it was onerous for her to step exterior due to restrictions imposed by elder members of the household.
She began coaching at Pritam Siwach’s Academy in Sonipat the place she realised that she wanted to work onerous to proceed her gradual progress in the game. Preeti would depart the home quietly, telling her household that she goes to examine in order that she will be able to proceed her coaching. “If I would get to spend time at the training grounds, I would feel content, even if I get scolded at home,” she recalled.
In her youthful days, Preeti acquired loads of help from her father, who was a wrestler throughout his younger days however had to stop the game due to an harm. At the age of 13, she suffered an harm on her leg throughout a district-stage match and had to get surgical procedure. She was suggested to be on full mattress relaxation for over a yr and her docs raised doubts whether or not she would give you the option to play hockey once more.
“It was a tough time for me and I was quite depressed at that time. My father did not tell me that doctors have hinted that I may not play again. He told me that if I wished to play hockey, I could continue to do so. I also received a lot of support from my coach who constantly motivated me and I was able to return to the sport. After returning to the sport when I was in 8th or 9th class, I started taking sport even more seriously,” she mentioned.
Now, Preeti has turn out to be an everyday member of the Indian Junior girls’s group and has earned 14 worldwide caps for the group. She additionally featured for the Indian Women’s Hockey Team that competed on the Hero FIH Hockey 5s Lausanne 2022.
“I feel proud of my achievements and I feel like I have answered all those who doubted me. I feel women can also achieve big things in sports, and I hope I can set an example for others so that more women do not have to face similar troubles that I had to face,” Preeti mentioned.
As the Indian Junior Women’s Hockey Team gears up for his or her hardest problem of the yr in Chile, Preeti expressed hopes that the Indian followers will proceed to cheer for them, as she feels it could maintain her facet motivated all through the event.
“A message for Indian fans would be that they continue to support us as they did during the Women’s Junior Asia Cup. Hearing their voices makes us feel that we are a part of a larger family and increases our confidence,” she signed off.
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – IANS)
