Healthy competition among players to make the team, says Savita

The Indian Women's Core Group is currently preparing for a hectic season ahead with FIH Pro League matches in Europe.

With the clock ticking closer to the FIH Women's World Cup in Netherlands and Spain scheduled to begin on 1st July 2022, the Indian Women's Hockey Core group currently in a preparation camp at the SAI Centre in Bengaluru are in a competitive mood.

Having a strong pool of players who have performed well at the recently held home games of FIH Pro League as well as outstanding performers in the Women's Junior World Cup being called up for the Senior camp, there is an air of healthy competition within the group.

Explaining the mood in the camp, India's ace goalkeeper Savita who led the team to the top of the pool table in Pro League said, "There is a lot of excitement in the camp and players are giving their 100 per cent in training. With new players coming into the group by virtue of good performances in the Pro League and Junior World Cup, there is healthy competition within the group and this is helping in bringing out the best in each one of us."

"With more players getting international exposure, and having gained the confidence to play top teams in big-match scenarios, we are heading in the right direction of building a strong team for the all-important World Cup," added Savita.

The Indian Women's Team is grouped in Pool B where they will take on England, China and New Zealand in their World Cup campaign with the first match scheduled for 3rd July with England in Amstelveen, Netherlands. Ahead of the prestigious quadrennial event, the Indian team will also play the FIH Pro League matches in Belgium where they take on the home team on 11th and 12th June followed by weekend matches in Netherlands where they take on Argentina on 18th and 19th June, United States on 21st and 22nd June.

"There is a lot of hockey we will be playing in the weeks leading up to the World Cup, so there is a lot of emphasis on our fitness during this camp and we are also paying attention to post-match recovery process," stated Savita.

"With just 50 Days to go for the World Cup and less than a month to go before the group leaves for the Pro League, there is certainly a lot of excitement. The Pro League matches in Belgium and Netherlands will not only provide us a good base for the World Cup campaign but it will also help us get acclimatise to the conditions there. We made it to the Quarterfinals last time in London, and the aim this time is definitely to make it to the next level,"," Savita signed off.

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