The Indian women’s hockey team qualified for the 2018 World Cup after South Africa won the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday.
The Indian team is currently in Japan for the Asia Cup and while a title here will give it bigger bragging rights, the pressure to win has now been lifted. India finished eighth at the Hockey World League Semifinals in Johannesburg earlier this year and its qualification, to be held in London, was dependent on the other continental events going its way.
“Yes we are happy but I had already told them that there was 99% chance of us qualifying since there is hardly any challenge for South Africa at continental level. But we do not want to just make up the numbers at the World Cup.
“Also, a lot of people said India went to Olympics because of other results going its way. If we win the Asia Cup, we will be going as continental champions and deserving of a spot among the best 16 in the world,” coach Harendra Singh told The Hindu from Kakamigahara.
