Holders India look to gain from Tokyo high

Muscat: The Indian women’s hockey team will look to carry on the momentum from the historic Tokyo Olympic campaign when it opens its title defence against Malaysia in the Asia Cup here on Friday. The Indian women recorded their best-ever Olympic result after finishing fourth in Tokyo last year, narrowly missing out on a podium.

The Savita Punia-led side, the most experienced in the tournament, will now be hoping to use that experience to good effect in its first major event after the Olympics.

Goalkeeper Savita will lead the side in the absence of Rani Rampal, who is recovering from a hamstring injury. Savita has admitted that India’s experience will be key to the team’s success at the prestigious quadrennial tournament, which is also a qualifying event for this year’s FIH Women’s World Cup, to be co-hosted by Spain and Netherlands.