London, June 14:
Back on the world stage following a series of consistent shows, an ever-improving India will strive to unsettle some top teams in the Hockey World League Semi-Final, where they face lowly Scotland in their campaign opener, here tomorrow.
Not long ago, eight-time Olympic champions India were struggling to cope up with the changes in world hockey, which in turn led to their downfall.
Such was the state that India failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympics and then finished last in the 2012 London Games.
But having touched the lowest ebb, it was time for Indian hockey to revive and it did so slowly and steadily under the watchful eyes of master tactician Roelant Oltmans.
Now India are looked upon as a power to reckon with in world hockey and have scaled up to sixth position in the international rankings.
And the HWL Semi-Final will provide India a chance to prove to the world that they certainly deserve a place among the elite of world hockey.
It should be a cakewalk for India in their opening encounter as they play against a side which is ranked 23rd in the world at the Lee Valley’s Hockey and Tennis Centre in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park here.
The Indians are expected to win the match hands down and it remains to be seen how big the margin of victory Oltmans’ men can manage tomorrow.
For India, the HWL Semi-Final is a chance to assess their progress and implement new tactics against top teams as being the hosts, they are guaranteed a place in the HWL Final to be held later this year and the 2018 World Cup. (PTI)
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