Indian Women Hockey team leaves for Japan to play six test matches

Bangalore, June 12 (UNI) Aiming for a Olympic berth, the Indian women's hockey team is embarking upon a series of matches with field perfection and physical fitness still a suspect.

The Indian team which is on way to Osaka via New Delhi for a six test series in Japan, would also be striving hard in the Asian Cup before the Beijing Olympic qualifier.

Chief Coach M Kaushik, talking to UNI before the team's departure to Japan said that '' the team is well balanced and we aim a Olympic berth''. The team would be busy honing up skills in matches before the February qualifying rounds.

''Olympic qualifier is very important, the team should do well to get qualified. However, we need to improve a lot in physical fitness as well as field perfection'', he added.

He said that team will be playing six test matches against Japan at Tenri-Osaka from June 15 to 25. "Japan ranked fifth, cannot be taken lightly, it would be a tough job for the girls, but I am confident they perform well.'' "India ranks 13 and I am confident the ranking would improve before Olympics 2008", he added.

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