Published By: Ritayan Basu
Last Updated: January 04, 2024, 12:28 IST
Italy ladies’s staff captain Sara Puglisi stated on Thursday that her aspect is excessive on confidence whereas gearing up for a “tough” problem in opposition to higher-ranked groups within the FIH Hockey Olympic qualifiers scheduled to start on January 13.
The Italian aspect will start its marketing campaign on January 13 in opposition to New Zealand, which would be the first assembly between the 2 groups in seven years.
World No. 19 Italy are grouped in Pool B and can tackle the USA on January 14, after which play their closing Pool sport in opposition to India on January 16.
“We know it will be a tough competition. But everything is open and nothing is impossible. We will do what we need to get the results in our favour,” stated Puglisi after Italy arrived right here.
The different groups within the fray embody Olympic silver medallists Germany, former Asian Games Champions Japan, Chile and the Czech Republic in Pool A.
The prime three groups from the event will qualify for the Paris Olympic Games.
Opening up on the staff’s preparations, Puglisi stated: “We have had a few months of preparations together. We have worked a lot. We have come here and we will finish our final steps of training this week and then we will start the tournament together. It is quite exciting.”
Italy are the second staff to have arrived to Ranchi after hosts India.
“We wanted to finish our preparations here so that we get used to the weather and the turf – hence we decided to come early,” stated Puglisi in a HI launch.
While Italy have achieved a number of distinctions in ladies’s hockey over time, together with a gold medal on the 2013 EuroHockey Nations Championship II, they’re but to earn an Olympic berth.
“It has been a long time since we have been waiting to go to the Olympics. So, if we are able to qualify, we will be over the moon. It’s a dream for everyone,” the skipper stated.
Italy chief coach Andres Mondo additionally backed his staff regardless of the dearth of expertise.
“We are a very new and young team, and you could see we are using different formations. At the moment, we are ranked at no 19. But this team, the quality of players that we have, we do not feel we are number 19,” he signed off.
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated news company feed – PTI)
Ritayan BasuRitayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been masking home and and worldwide soccer for almost a decade. Has performed and c…Read More
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