Asian Champions Trophy: Navneet Kaur finds the space, Deepika finds her footing as India down Japan in an entertaining ‘arm-wrestle’ | Hockey News
At half-time, Japan’s coach Jude Menezes – an Indian Olympian – called the group-stage match against the hosts an arm-wrestle duel. It was an entertaining encounter between teams with perfect records at the Asian Champions Trophy here. In the end, India just about managed to muscle their way past to make it four wins out of four.
Navneet Kaur (31′) put India ahead and then Kana Urata (37′) brought Japan back into the match with a ferocious drag flick. With both sides pushing hard, the winner eventually came from Sangita Kumari (47′) after Deepika won and took a series of Penalty Corners to eventually bring the arm down in India’s favour.
Somewhere in the third quarter, when there was a bit of a lull in the atmosphere, there was a loud yell of “Deepika” from India coach Janneke Schopman that echoed around the venue. Until then, the 19-year-old forward was having a mixed day. There were some bright moments, but she got a yellow card in the third quarter during which Japan scored the equaliser. When she got back on the pitch, her pressing didn’t please Schopman.
But at the start of the fourth quarter, she picked up the slack and it was a strong physical piece-play from her that earned India a Penalty Corner. Her series of drag flicks that followed were also on point and Sangita eventually got the touch for the match-winning goal.
After the game, coach Schopman spoke about Deepika. “She is a very talented young player but someone she needs to learn and work hard. Today Van (Vandana Katariya), playing her 300th match, continues to lead example, she never slacks off. Deepika can learn a lot in that respect. She was a little bit lazy when I yelled, then got a little bit nervous while defending. But she is a really good drag flicker and I was really happy for her when we got the goal,” she said.
If Deepika is a young player who turned her night around, India’s other goalscorer – and player of the match – Navneet showed a dimension to her game that Schopman would want to see more of. The India No 25 has emerged as arguably the best attacking outfield player in this Indian squad in the recent past, her dribbling and passing often standing out as world-class. One could even make a strong case for her being one of the best in the world for stick skills.
Ranchi: India’s Vandana Katariya celebrates with teammates after being felicitated on becoming the first Indian female hockey player to play 300 international matches, at the start of the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2023 match between India and Japan, at Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astro Turf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. (PTI)
But she is not always a prolific goalscorer, and the 27-year-old found the moment to show it is an area she could contribute as well. After a cagey start, India dominated the second quarter and came out for the second half on the front foot too. Salima Tete – once again deployed centrally – held the ball well at the edge of the circle and passed the ball through a group of defenders. In that split second, Navneet found herself in space and had no hesitation in taking a clear shot at goal.
“She needs to get into good positions,” Schopman said. “In the last couple of games she has been the feeder for many of our players to score, she is a very good connecting player. She’s so good that sometimes she keeps the ball too long, but she is actually growing a lot as a leader too. We discussed it specifically at half time that we need to keep a bit narrow, and Salima-Neha-Navneet have to connect with shorter passes into space. It’s always fun when a little thing works out that way.”Most Read
1
Cricket World Cup: Why India is not in the semifinals yet despite winning six out of six games
2
‘Ghatiya harkat’, ‘Pathetic’: Pakan cricket legends livid as Pakan news channel airs Babar Azam’s purported WhatsApp chats
See More
Perhaps what would concern Schopman despite another impressive win is India’s inability to make sustained spells of pressure count. After the China win on Monday, she had said that her side sometimes don’t realise when they have teams where they want them, they don’t put the match to bed.
Meanwhile, Menezes, before the match, saw this as an opportunity to redeem a bit of pride after losing in the bronze medal match at the Hangzhou Asian Games. While the result didn’t go his side’s way, after the match, he was proud of the fight his side had shown.
The evening started with the felicitation for Vandana’s for her horic 300th international appearance, the first Indian woman to achieve the feat. It ended with India holding off Japan for a 2-1 win to go top of the table on 12 points. It wouldn’t come as a surprise if these two teams meet again later in the tournament, as table-toppers provided the entertainment that seemed to be on the cards before a ball was hit.
