Eye

No more considered as pushovers, a rejuvenated India would seek revenge against England when the two sides open their Pool B campaign in the Women’s Hockey World Cup in Amstelveen on Sunday.

The Indian women’s hockey team would be eager to settle scores against a side which shattered their bronze medal hopes in last year’s Tokyo Olympics .

India came tantalisingly close to claiming their maiden Olympic medal in Tokyo, only to lose 3-4 against England, who are playing as Great Britain in the showpiece in Amstelveen.

But going into the tournament, the Indians would be high on confidence, especially after finishing a creditable third in their maiden outing in the FIH Pro League.

India’s best performance in the World Cup was a fourth place finish at the inaugural edition in 1974, but since achieving a historic fourth place in Tokyo Games, the team has been on a phenomenal rise.

The Indian women’s team achieved its best-ever world ranking, a sixth position in May and then gave some top teams of the world a run for their money in the FIH Pro League. The Indian team finished on the podium ahead of strong sides like Belgium, Australia and England.

Experienced goalkeeper Savita Punia performed captaincy responsibilities brilliantly since taking over from talismanic Rani Rampal, who has been sidelined since the Tokyo Games due to a hamstring injury.

Savita has been in stellar form, while she will have young and energetic back-up in Bichu Devi Kharibam.

The backline will be under the watchful eyes of vice-captain Deep Grace Ekka, Gurjit Kaur, Udita and Nikki Pradhan, while the responsibility of building the attacks will be on the shoulders of Sushila Chanu, Neha Goyal, Navjot Kaur, Sonika, Jyoti, Nisha and Monika.

Salima Tete, who has been in terrific form and is known for electrifying runs down the flanks, will need to play the linking role.

The responsibility of scoring goals will be on experienced Vandana Katariya, Lalremsiami, Navneet Kaur and Sharmila Devi.

Even though it is well-oiled squad, India will definitely miss the experience and services of Rani.

India finished eight in the last edition in 2018, but they are hoping for their first podium finish in this edition of the tournament and going by their form and recent results, it is definitely not impossible.

Players with potential

India’s chief coach Janekke Schopman knows the potential of her players.

“If we truly play to our potential, we play the way we know we can consistently, anything is possible. Women hockey at this moment is very tight, anyone can beat anyone,” Schopman had said.

“(But) consistency is a big point of attention. If we can play consistently well, top-4, and who knows a podium in the World Cup is a possibility.

“I think we have great potential and if we actually play to our potential we are a tough team to beat,” the 45-year-old said.

England’s best result in the World Cup is a a bronze medal in the 2010 edition in Rosario, Argentina. Besides, they also finished fourth in 1990 in Sydney.

There is hardly anything to differentiate between the two sides. England are placed fourth in world rankings while India are at sixth.

After England, India will face China on June 5, followed by their last pool match against New Zealand on July 7.

MARANG: Fishermen and anglers are urged to be the ‘eyes and ears’ to the authorities and immediately report any pollution activities at sea along with evidence such as video recordings or photographs, to enable legal action to be taken against those involved.

Environment and Water Minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (pic) said although pollution cases at sea were still under control, the matter could not be taken lightly and needed to be monitored.

“So far, pollution (at sea) is still not alarming, but I have received unofficial complaints of irresponsible ships which dump black oil in the sea.

“However, there is no evidence since the pollution is usually done late at night.

“But the fishermen who are fishing in the middle of the night can sense black oil around the boat, the cause is not known from where.

“That’s why if you can take videos and pictures of the ship involved, it’s easy to take immediate action,” he told reporters after officiating at the Sungai Merchang Estuary Conservation Project at Pantai Marang here on Sunday (July 3).

He said although the amount of black oil released into the sea was sometimes small and insignificant, the matter needed to be controlled because over time it would affect the lives of fish and other marine life.

“Usually these ships want to save on cleaning costs and so on,” he said, adding that during his tenure oil spills were only reported on the beach at Port Dickson and at Tanjung Tuan, Melaka.

Asked whether the parties involved were believed to be the owners of merchant ships or foreign fishermen, Tuan Ibrahim said the matter could not be ascertained as there was no clear evidence thus far.

Meanwhile, he said to solve the problems of the residents in the Marang district, the Sungai Merchang Estuary Conservation Project worth RM30.5mil was implemented on Dec 15, 2021 and is expected to be completed on Dec 14, 2023.

“The project involves excavating a navigation channel from the mouth of Sungai Merchang to the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority Jetty, construction of breakwater structures, retaining wall structures, protection layers and coastal fertilisation.

“Once the project is completed, it will allow fishermen and tourist boat entrepreneurs to get into and out of the sea safely.

“It protects more than 100 registered boats from being damaged due to shallow estuary and waves,” he said.

According to him, the Federal government also approved the implementation of the Coastal Erosion Control Project in Pantai Marang at a cost of RM15.6mil and the project started on Jan 4 and is expected to be completed within two years.

He said among the scope of the project was a 2.2-kilometre coastal fertilisation work to address erosion, coastal floods and protect the coastline as well as reduce the risk of property damage and loss of lives. – Bernama