7th Junior Women’s World Cup: India take on formidable Australia in tournament opener

Indian junior women’s hockey team will have their task cut out when they take on former champions Australia in their opening Group C encounter of the 7th Junior Women’s World Cup in Monchengladbach on Saturday.

The Sushila Chanu-led side needs to make a strong beginning as they are pitted in a tough Pool alongside teams like New Zealand and Russia.

Of course, the Indian outfit can draw inspiration from the 2009 Junior World Cup (the last edition) in Boston, where they had also locked horns with Australia in their tournament opener and edged them out 3-2.

Interestingly, Australia went on to finish fifth, while India’s performance slipped and they had to settle for the ninth place.

The Indian side comprises as many as twelve players, who were part of the senior team in the recently-held 1st women’s Hockey World League Round 3 event in Rotterdam, where the country finished a disappointing seventh among eight teams.

However, it is pertinent to point out that a large chunk of the players, who are part of the Junior World Cup team, are relative newcomers, having made it to the senior team only in the last twelve months or so.

Barring skipper Sushila Chanu, midfielder Vandana Katariya, strikers Rani Rampal and Poonam Rani are the only experienced players in the side.

Vandana Katariya, Rani Rampal and Poonam Rani are the only three survivors of the team that took part in the 2009 Junior World Cup in Boston.

Among the rookie senior players who are part of the Junior World Cup team include fullbacks Deep Grace Ekka, Namita Toppo, Manjit Kaur (who made her senior international debut in Rotterdam), midfielders Lily Chanu, Lilima Minz, Ritusha Arya Navjot Kaur and striker Anupa Barla.

The bright spark of this team is the return of talented striker Rani Rampal after a long back injury; she is one player who can turn around the game in no time.

She was not included in the senior team for the 1st women’s Hockey World League Round 3 event in Rotterdam as the national hockey selectors wanted her to be fully fit for the 7th Junior World Cup.

India is expected to face stiff opposition from teams like the Netherlands, Korea, Germany and Argentina.

Defending champions Netherlands, twice champions Korea are placed in Pool A alongside Ghana and USA. 2009 edition runners-up Argentina are clubbed in Pool B alongside Chile, Canada and South Africa. 2005 edition runners-up Germany are clubbed in Pool D alongside England, Spain and Belgium.

India play their second game against New Zealand on July 28 before they wrap up their league assignments against Russia on July 30.

The marquee event runs till August 4.