Bhubaneswar, March 10 (Agency) Indian women’s hockey team experienced defender and two-time Olympian Nikki Pradhan said that coach Janneke Schopman highlights every tiny detail that made a huge difference in player’s performance. “Janneke gets into the smallest details which could make a big difference in our individual performance. We use a lot of video analysis, not just of our opponents, but also of our own individual performance and she takes us through the plus and minus of how we performed,” said Pradhan. “She herself has played at the highest level as a defender, she brings in great expertise.
I feel there are still some gaps we need to work on in our defence and we are trying to improve in each match.” The Indian Women’s Team playing their FIH Hockey Pro League this year, and began their campaign with two big wins against Asian nemesis China in Muscat. They have built on this performance with a win and a loss against Spain who are ranked sixth in the world. “We are really excited to be playing in the Pro League for the first time and this was probably the best thing that could happen to us this year where we play the World Cup and the Asian Games…
Matches against top teams of the world will hold us in good stead,” she said. The Indian team will be next seen in action when they take on Germany in two FIH Pro League home games on March 12 and 13 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. “Germany is a tough side and them losing against Belgium in their opening matches will only make them more determined to win against us which is why we don’t want to take them lightly. We played them last year before we went for the Olympics and we understand their game and temperament. “They are a tough opponent and these matches against Germany will be quite physical. But we are ready for the challenge,” she said.