Indian women’s hockey team looks to hit reset button

Birmingham, July 28

The Indian women’s hockey team would look to exorcise the demons of a disastrous World Cup campaign by steamrolling minnows Ghana in their Commonwealth Games opener today.

India are clubbed in Pool A alongside hosts England, Canada, Wales and Ghana, while Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Scotland and Kenya complete Pool B.

Just like their men’s team, the Indian women returned empty-handed from the last edition, finishing fourth after being routed 6-0 by England in the bronze medal playoff.

It is also an opportunity to put behind their recent dismal World Cup campaign, where the Savita Punia-led side finished ninth. India would be desperate to prove that they are a far better side than what the recent results indicate. Also, they would be hoping to break their 16-year-long medal drought at the Games. India’s last CWG medal was a silver, won in Melbourne in 2006.

While it is expected to be a cakewalk for India in their opening two pool games — they face world No. 24 Wales in the second game — the first real challenge will be against England on Tuesday before their final pool game against world No. 15 Canada.

The top two teams from each pool progress to the semifinals.