China test awaits Indian eves in Asian Games hockey

Indian women's hockey team, buoyed by a handy 3-0 victory over minnows Thailand in the Asian Games opener, face a monumental task tomorrow when they take on defending champions China in their second pool game, here tomorrow.

Indian forwards missed some chances but still the team managed to defeat Thailand by a good margin, but against three-time champions China they need to be at their sharpest. The Indian defence too needs to be at its tightest to stop the marauding title holders.

India had lost to the Chinese in the two previous Games editions, albeit by close margins, which should act as a confidence-booster form Neil Hawgood's wards tomorrow.
 

India lost to China 2-3 in the 2006 Games at Doha and then lost 1-2 to the same opponents four years later at Guangzhou and on both occasions their rivals went on to win the gold medal first.

China, the highest ranked team being no. 5 in the world in this competition struggled to get past Malaysia in their opening game which should also act as a boost to the Indian team.

Team coach Hawood cautioned that on the last two occasions the Indians had ended up on the losing side.