Hockey team for Japan to improve skills, fitness

Bangalore, June 12 (UNI) Aiming at an Olympic berth, the Indian women's hockey team will embark on an exposure tour to play a series of matches to improve skills and fitness.

The Indian team would first go to Osaka in Japan for a six test series, before participating in the Asian Cup.

Talking to UNI, before the team's departure to Japan, Team Chief Coach M Kaushik, said, ''The team is well balanced and we aim at an Olympic berth. The team will be busy honing up skills in matches before the qualifying rounds in February.'' ''Olympic qualifier is very important. We need to improve a lot in physical fitness as well as field skills,'' he added.

He said the team would play six test matches against Japan at Tenri-Osaka from June 15 to 25.

''Japan, currently ranked fifth, cannot be taken lightly. It would be a tough job for the girls, but I am confident that they will perform well,'' he said.

Though India ranked 13, I am confident that the ranking would improve before Olympics 2008, he added.

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