Indian women's hockey team coach Mathias Ahrens wary of the home threat

A confident Indian side will start their campaign against home side Belgium on June 20

Indian women’s chief coach Mathias Ahrens is wary of the threat possessed by the hosts of the Hockey World League (HWL) – Belgium as they face them in the opening match. The Belgium side will have the home advantage and the much-needed crowd support to put pressure on the Indian side.

Ahrens claimed that Belgium have no advantage over India apart from the home crowd.

He said, “Our first match is against the host team – Belgium. They will have just one advantage over us that will be playing in front of their home crowd.”

As for the Indian side, much will depend on the captain of the side Ritu Rani, who is also the most experienced player in the team with 206 caps. Another player who can make a difference is prodigious talent Rani Rampal, who has played 133 matches and scored 74 goals at a tender age of just 20.

The coach knows the importance of possession play in the opposition circle and insisted the team to finish the job “in a few seconds” once they are in the attacking half.

“The girls realise that continuing ball possession in the opponent's D is important and the team is working on short passes and their reaction time once in the D as time will be the key. They have to enter, finish the job in a matter of seconds.”

Indian women team are coming into this tournament with their head held high after dominating World League Round held in Delhi in 2nd week of march in which they scored a mammoth 38 goals and conceded just 1.

The coach is confident of the good show in this HWL semis. He said, “I think the teams will be evenly placed and all will depend on the initial pressure. On that front, I think we have a strong attack and I am confident of a good start.”