By IANS,
New Delhi : Indian women’s hockey coach C.R. Kumar Tuesday was happy with the team’s 3-0 win over Poland in the 2012 London Olympics qualifiers but was concerned at the team not earning enough penalty corners.
“We are getting better with each match and with this win we have reached the top of the table and I am happy with the efforts of the girls. A 3-0 is a satisfying result, of course we could have scored more but they outnumbered our forwards inside the circle,” said Kumar at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.
India earned just two penalty corners against Poland and failed to convert both.
A worried Kumar said: “We are more balanced in the attack, we are trying to penetrate from all avenues. But the penalty corners remains an area of concern, we are not earning enough penalty corners and not even converting them. We need to work on this area.”
Kumar said India’s unbeaten run in the tournament will give them the much needed boost when they face tournament favourites and World No.12 South Africa here Wednesday.
“South Africa is a very good team and we are naturally looking for a win. It will give us a psychological boost. We are looking forward to the match and trying to keep all options open. We have to be as unpredictable as possible before crucial matches,” he said.
Kumar also said that forward Anuradha Devi Thokchom, who suffered a hamstring pull against Canada, will be out for the next two matches.
“Anuradha may be available for the last game but the physio said she is out at least for the next two matches. It is not a big problem because we have back up for her but she is a very good striker and she obviously if she is there she would have some influence on the game,” he said.