As India’s women’s team takes on Hong Kong in a friendly on Monday, head coach, Maymol Rocky, refers to the fixtures as a “safe space to test permutations and combinations in the team.”
The Indian women’s team is playing four friendlies – two against Hong Kong in Hong Kong, followed by two against Indonesia in Indonesia. The matches have been organised to help the team prepare in the best shape for the forthcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic Qualifiers Round 2.
“Every team presents its own challenges. Hong Kong is no different. In fact, they have some players who could hurt us if we are not on the top of our game. However, it does not matter to us if it is a friendly match or not, we will be going all out for a win,” Maymol stated.
Hong Kong has also qualified for the Qualifiers Round 2 of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The last time the two met, India won 2-1 back in 2017 in the Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers.
“We are looking to test our permutations and combinations in these matches. We will also experiment with our tactics,” Maymol added.
“The biggest advantage of playing friendly matches is that it gives the players the much need match experience. Against an opponent like Hong Kong, it will only help evolve the players better,” she maintained.
For the players, the match aids to prove themselves on the pitch against a “strong opponent.”
“The opposition will also be looking for a win, so will we. There is no doubt it will be a tough clash. The Friendly does not mean that we will sit back and relax. We will be gunning for a win,” defender Jabamani Tudu echoed her coach’s sentiments.
“It is also an opportunity for us to prove ourselves and test our skills. We have been preparing hard for the Olympic Qualifiers Round 2, and the road starts with these matches. We will look to build our pedigree here as we approach the main tournament,” added Dalima Chibber.
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