05 October,2010 06:56 AM IST | | Ashwin Ferro
The Indian women's hockey team captain Surinder Kaur blamed the lack of any available video footage of their opponents, Scotland, for the 1-1 draw in their CWG opener at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here yesterday.
"We have not played them before and did not have any videos of theirs to view either which may have helped us prepare against them. So we didn't know what to expect," said Kaur after the hosts and reigning CWG silver medallists saved face with a 45th minute equaliser to negate the Scotswomen's strike in as early as the third minute of the match.
Scotland's Holly Cram finished off an attack from the left by beating India's seasoned 'keeper Dipika Murthy from a narrow angle to shock the hosts in the third minute, much as to shake the Indian eves off their nervous start.
The visitors led the hosts into the breather, after which the Indian girls suddenly found a spring in their footsteps. Teenage forward Rani Rampal and hardworking midfielder Ritu Rani made a few threatening runs into the Scottish circle but the finishing was just not up to the mark. The Indian eves even squandered a couple of penalty corners ufffd Subhadra Pradhan and Jasjeet Kaur Handa proving to be the guilty parties in the missed opportunities ufffdone in either half.
However, Handa made up for her error with a fine reverse hit goal 15 minutes from the final whistle to help the hosts share points.
Now, the Aussies
India next take on powerhouse Australia, however going by skipper Kaur's reasoning they should logically be able to put it across the mighty Aussies.
"We have viewed a lot of their video footage and are ready for the challenge." Kaur signed off.
