Indian women's hockey team ready for new challenge: Oltmans

India women’s hockey team

New Delhi, January 11 (IANS)

Indian hockey high-performance director Roelant Oltmans on Sunday said the women's team is brimming with confidence ahead of the impending Test series against Spain and World League Round 2 tournament.

The team, which won bronze in the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, kicked off its preparatory camp Saturday here. The 24-member squad led by seasoned midfielder Ritu Rani underwent training at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.

The team's training will continue till February 9 to prepare for the Test matches in Valencia from February 10-24 and the International Hockey Federation (FIH) World League Round 2 to be held here from March 7-15.

"The camp will be a good learning experience for the team and I am sure through this, the girls will be better prepared for the Spain tour. After winning the Asian Games bronze, the entire team looks confident and ready to take on newer and bigger challenges," Oltmans said in a release.

"Spain are just a rank below us and we are expecting a good competition from them. We will look at the camp giving us the perfect team for the upcoming World League Round 2."

The team is also waiting for a new chief coach as Australian Neil Hawgood decided not to extend his contract after being at the helm for more than two years.