BHUBANESWAR: As the race for the title hots up at the FIH World Cup here, hosts India are some 300 km away at Rourkela. After being beaten by New Zealand in the crossover match, Harmanpreet Singh and his men will play the 9-12 classification matches at the Birsa Munda hockey stadium.
India made a winning start to their campaign at the same venue and will hope to sign off on a safe note. On Thursday, India will take on Japan in the first match and play another classification match on January 28. A win in both matches would mean a ninth-place finish for India.
One may argue that classification matches are for the also-rans, but in hindsight, there is also some confidence to be regained, strategies reassessed, players' performance reviewed and pride to be salvaged. Japan finished at the bottom of Pool B, losing their three matches. They scored two goals while conceding 12.
With their confidence crushed, India will have to pull themselves up and give a better account of their craft. It is to be seen if goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who was injured during the shootout in the crossovers, will take the field.
