Snapping Ten-Match Losing Streak A Top Priority for Indian Eves Besides Retaining the Asian Champions Trophy
The Indian women’s hockey team would hope to snap its ten-match losing streak in the 8th Asian Champions Trophy at Rajgir. The national eves have lost ten matches in a row starting with the 2024 Olympic qualifiers, where their losing sequence under erstwhile coach Janneke Schopman kickstarted with their semifinal shootout defeat to Germany and subsequently their bronze medal play-off tie loss to Japan. The 9th ranked Blueskirts under new coach Harendra Singh, went on to lose all their eight games against Argentina, Belgium, Germany and Great Britain in their Europe leg of the Pro League at Antwerp and London.
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Of course, the Indian eves are the defending champions going into the 8th Asian Champions Trophy but they would be up against the likes of Olympic silver medallist China and Japan, who had qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics and finished 10th. The competitive level at the Asian hockey level cannot be matched with those experienced at the Pro League or the Olympics.
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Having said that, one would expect India to break its ten-game losing streak as they are pitted against less-fancied Malaysia in their 8th Asian Champions Trophy opener – to be fair, India can be expected to make short work of Malaysia and Thailand. But realistically speaking, India should back themselves to retain the Asian Champions Trophy as China are fielding a relatively young side featuring only two players – Fan Yunxia and Tan Jinzhuang – from the Olympic silver-winning side. Surprisingly, China have come to the Asian Champions Trophy without their celebrated coach Alyson Annan and her place for the India tourney is taken by Huang Yongsheng as head coach.
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Much like China, Japan do not appear to be at full-strength for the Asian Champions Trophy inducting several youngsters in the side. Former Japan international and two-time World-Cupper Ozawa Kazuyuki has taken over as head coach from former Indian goalkeeper-turned-coach who was in the hot seat for the Samurais at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where they had settled for the 10th position.
| Indian Eves’ Losing Streak | |||
| Result | Opponent | Tournament | Venue |
| Lost 2-3 | Great Britain | Pro League | London |
| Lost 2-4 | Germany | Pro League | London |
| Lost 2-3 | Great Britain | Pro League | London |
| Lost 1-3 | Germany | Pro League | London |
| Lost 0-5 | Argentina | Pro League | Antwerp |
| Lost 0-2 | Belgium | Pro League | Antwerp |
| Lost 1-2 | Belgium | Pro League | Antwerp |
| Lost 0-3 | Argentina | Pro League | Antwerp |
| Lost 3-4 (2-2) | Germany | Olympic Qualifiers | Ranchi |
| Lost 0-1 | Japan | Olympic Qualifiers | Ranchi |
