Aiming for 2020 Tokyo Olympics, says Indian defender Udita Duhan

The 23-year-old was part of the team that toured Argentina and Germany this year. 

Playing against world's top teams like Argentina and Germany earlier this year has brought a massive change in how young Udita Duhan perceives these teams.

"I had never seen these teams play in person and this was the first time I was playing against them. There was a sense of nervousness and excitement at the same time before the start of the tour. But after a few good matches, I felt that we too can win against them if we work harder," said Udita Duhan. 

Udita remarked, "It is when you play top teams like Argentina and Germany, that you realise how much harder we need to work on our game. We were playing these tours after a break of one year." She also reveals that it took the team one day at a time to recapture.

The Haryana-born Udita Duhan has been a regular feature in the Indian Camp since 2017. In the past four years, she feels she has transformed as a player.

She stated, "Earlier, I played as a forward, but I felt like I didn't play to my potential." Udita suffered a knee injury in 2019 which kept her out of the game for a long spell."

The defender credits the team particularly chief coach Sjoerd Marijne and scientific advisor Wayne Lombard for her recovery. "I now play in the backline and really enjoy my role and get to learn a lot of Deep Grace Ekka," she said.   

Back in the national coaching camp in SAI, Bengaluru after a brief break, Udita Duhan stated that her focus will be on aiming to make the final team for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

"Each one in the group is as talented as the other and surely there will be a healthy competition to make the final team for the Tokyo Olympics. My focus will be on working on the areas I have been asked to improve individually and ensure I execute my role properly. Having done well against these top teams recently," she concluded.

For more football updates, follow Khel Now on Twitter, Instagram and join our community on Telegram.