London: Odisha will have much to cheer about as quartet Deep Grace Ekka, Sunita Lakra, Namita Toppo and Lilima Minz from the state take the field with an upbeat India facing England in Group B opening encounter of Vitality Women’s Hockey World Cup here on Saturday.
The four were a part of the team, which finished runners-up in the recently-concluded Asian Champions Trophy.
On the eve of the match, Indian team skipper Rani Rampal said the pressure will be on England. “Yes they will have the home ground advantage but we are not new to playing in front of big crowds. We have done well against England before and we will carry the confidence of doing well in our recent tournaments including the CWG where we had tasted victory against England in the Group Stage at Gold Coast,” she added.
Grouped in Pool B, India will then take on world number 16 Ireland on July 26 followed by world number 7 USA on July 29.
Captain of the Indian Eves, @imranirampal and her teammates are waiting to get on to the turf and get off to the best possible start at the Vitality Hockey Women’s World Cup London 2018 against hosts England today. #IndiaKaGame #HWC2018 pic.twitter.com/jlDxuCvyA8
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) July 21, 2018
All you #hockey fans, gear up for #India ‘s opening match at the Vitality Hockey Women’s World Cup against #England. Let the wishes pour in! #HWC2018 #Odisha2018 #OdishaForHockey pic.twitter.com/AWcADGk9El
— Sports & Youth Dept. (@sports_odisha) July 21, 2018
Hockey Lovers Odisha also tweeted a video of Odisha Women Hockey players wishing the national team the very best for today’s tournament.
Odisha Women’s Hockey Team giving there best wishes to Indian Senior Women’s Hockey team for Vitality Hockey Women’s World Cup London 2018.#IndiaKaGame#OdishaForHockey#Odisha2018???@sports_odisha@TheHockeyIndia@FIH_Hockey@CMO_Odisha@DilipTirkey@rvineel_krishnapic.twitter.com/dI7V6NV4Yl
— Hockey Lovers Odisha (@HockeyLuvOdisha) July 21, 2018
The Sports & Youth Department of Odisha also shared a post on Twitter
Vitality Hockey Women’s World Cup starts today! Here is the history of the prestigious tournament. #Odisha2018#OdishaForHockey#HWC2018pic.twitter.com/8fyhL5CdT0
— Sports & Youth Dept. (@sports_odisha) July 21, 2018
Sunita Lakra also spoke about the game and the support from her fans.
See what Sunita Lakra has to say about the support for Hockey she received from fans . The experienced defender is excited and confident of doing well in forthcoming Vitality Women’s Hockey World Cup. #HWC2018#Odisha2018#OdishaForHockey@TheHockeyIndia@FIH_Hockeypic.twitter.com/ZF016MjYz9
— Sports & Youth Dept. (@sports_odisha) July 19, 2018
Deep Grace Ekka also shared her thoughts, as tweeted by Hockey India.
Deep Grace Ekka, defender of the Indian Women’s Hockey Team, talks about the team’s reliance on their experienced players and also reveals her biggest inspiration ahead of the Vitality Hockey Women’s World Cup London 2018 which starts from 21st July 2018.#IndiaKaGame pic.twitter.com/GS2HoYdh5C
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) July 20, 2018
There also was a post which said majority of players in Indian Hockey Team are from Haryana and Odisha.
2 days to go for the @FIH_Hockey and do you know where the major part of the Indian #Hockey team is from?
Haryana and Odisha continue to be the Hockey hubs of the country. Kudos to the wonderful development in the two states. pic.twitter.com/OTHvIEERFI
— The Bridge (@TheBridge_IN) July 19, 2018
The 12th edition of the Women’s Hockey World Cup was held from 29 August to 11 September 2010 in Rosario, Argentina. Argentina had won the tournament for the second time, defeating defending champions the Netherlands 3–1 in the final. Though India was place ninth, Rani then was the cynosure of India’s performance having scored seven goals for the team during the course of the tournament.
