JOIN US Barely three days since taking over the coaching reins of the Indian women’s hockey side, Mathias Ahrens was impressed by his new wards and said he would be working on team’s goal-scoring abilities ahead of the upcoming Hockey World League Semifinals.
A top-four finish in the World League Semifinals, from June 20-July 5 in Belgium, could fetch team a historic Olympic berth.
“In the first three games in the World League we need to score goals and if we do that we go into the semifinals, but you will get results only when you score, so this is a very natural approach," Mathias told reporters at Major Dhyan Chand stadium.
“We hope to be in the semifinals, that will be an outstanding performance, but there is a second chance, but we will go out and (try to) do it here. Korea is the only team at the moment to have qualified for the Rio Olympics, there are still 11 spots up for grabs.”
India, ranked 13, are paired with Australia, New Zealand, Poland and hosts Belgium in Pool B in the World League while Netherlands, Korea, Japan, Italy and Azerbaijan are in Pool A.