New Delhi: A young team, led by the experienced Rani Rampal, is keen to get into action when the Women’s Hockey World Cup gets under way in London on July 21.
India, who missed out on the last edition in the Netherlands, are travelling with 16 players who have no experience of playing a World Cup before but are excited and confident of doing well at the showpiece event.
Rani and defender Deepika Thakur are the only ones who the prior experience of competing in a World Cup and are looking to motivate the squad.
“We have waited for this moment ever since we won the Asia Cup last year. For almost everyone on the team, this will be a first-time experience to be playing at the World Cup,” said Rani ahead of the team’s departure to London.
Rani stressed that the side has enough experience of playing international matches and the camaraderie is good.
“It is a plus point for us that this team barring only three or four players have been playing together for over two years now and have had good international exposure with many of them having more than 100 or 150 plus international caps for India.”
India are in Pool B along with Olympic champions England, world no. 7 USA and Ireland.
