Field Hockey

“We should not concede early goals,” says Indian team midfielder Nilakanta Sharma as they gear up for the World Cup

 

The Indian Men’s Hockey team have been very successful in recent times having won the historic bronze at the Tokyo Olympics and the silver at the Commonwealth Games. They are now focused on the upcoming World Cup which will be held in India early next year. Ahead of the major event, Indian midfielder Nilakanta Sharma feels that the team should focus on defending and not conceding early goals.

The Men in Blue’s Commonwealth Games campaign ended in a disappointing 7-0 demolition at the hands of the mighty Australia. Therefore dampening the morale of the players who finished with the silver medals in Birmingham. The Graham Reid coached side conceded five goals in the first half itself in that match. Therefore Nilakanta’s concerns cannot be taken lightly.

“We have been going through the videotapes of our matches in CWG ever since the camp started and we have been working to make sure that we don’t concede any early goals,” Nilkanata said in a media release.

He shared how a strong start is very important as it lays the platform for the team to build on it. “If we start strong, we can go on to build on our performance throughout the game.”

In the quadrennial event, India are in pool D along with England, Spain, and Wales. They begin their campaign in Rourkela on the opening day against Spain on January 13.

The midfielder has shared that they are going to face all quality sides in the big event and they dont want to feel like they did not give their best after the match gets over. “We have to face quite a few strong sides in the group stage of the World Cup and we don’t want to end up feeling like we haven’t performed our best at the end, so a good start is crucial for a good showing on home turf,” Nilakanta stated.

He shared how the main aim is to win a medal at the World Cup and anything less than that will not suffice. He wants the team to focus right from the group stages as they will face many strong teams and things will only get tougher for them in the knockouts. “Our aim at the World Cup is to get a medal, no matter what. We hope to qualify for the knockouts comfortably even though we face strong teams in the group stage and then focus on getting results against any team that stands in our way,” Nilakanta Sharma opined.

Ahead of the quadrennial tournament the Indian team will be facing New Zealand and Spain in the FIH Hockey Pro League. This time the World Cup will be in Rourkela and Bhubaneswar and India will have the advantage of playing in front of their fans.

About the Author


Written by DafaNews

DafaNews brings you the most highlighted news in the world of Sports. It serves you up-to-date matches, scores, live streams, fantasy games and quizzes. Our news covers India's prestigious leagues and events – Premier League, Pro Kabbadi League, Cricket World Cup and many more. Follow DafaNews on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter,Telegram and Youtube for more updates.

Related Post
Share
Published by
DafaNews

Recent Posts

Pro Kabaddi League 2024: Jaipur Pink Panthers vs Dabang Delhi K.C. – Match Preview

The inaugural champions Jaipur Pink Panthers will take the mat against Dabang Delhi K.C. in… Read More

November 21, 2024

Robert Lewandowski recalls playing under ‘difficult’ Pep Guardiola; explains how ex-Barcelona coach changed

Barcelona’s striker Robert Lewandowski recalled how Pep Guardiola was a difficult coach to play under… Read More

November 21, 2024

Ayush Chikkara aspires to be a ‘regular’ in Mumbai City FC’s team, says doesn’t want to take any external pressure

Mumbai City FC forward Ayush Chikkara wants to find a regular place in Petr Kratky’s… Read More

November 21, 2024

Carlos Alcaraz lauds Rafael Nadal’s legacy after retirement

World No.2 Carlos Alcaraz hailed Rafael Nadal’s legacy after the veteran Spaniard retired from the… Read More

November 21, 2024

Jamshedpur FC’s defender Ashutosh Mehta credits ‘100% professional’ Khalid Jamil for having a big impact in his life

Jamshedpur FC full-back Ashutosh Mehta has given credit to head coach Khalid Jamil for playing… Read More

November 21, 2024

Lakers star LeBron James says he’s taking a break from social media

Los Angeles Lakers’s superstar LeBron James has revealed he is taking a break from social… Read More

November 21, 2024