All teams in FIH Hockey 5s are at the same level; competition will be tough: Women's skipper Etimarpu

Lausanne, June 3 Indian women's captain Rajani Etimarpu has said ahead of the inaugural edition of the FIH Hockey 5s here that the fact that all the teams are playing for the first time in this format, it's going to be a very closely-contested affair as the sides are "expected to be at the same level".

The Indian women's team is set to begin its campaign against Uruguay on June 4. They will also compete against Poland later on the same day. India will face off against hosts Switzerland and South Africa, respectively on June 5.

Speaking on the preparation ahead of the first day of the competition against the two teams, Etimarpu said, "All the teams are playing for the first time in this format. So, all the teams are expected to be at the same level. We want to go and play hockey, showcase our skills, and enjoy ourselves.

"We are glad and excited to play in FIH Hockey 5s. We have worked hard on the training grounds, and have tried to adjust our game plan as per the format. We hope we can give Uruguay and Poland a tough contest on the first day of the competition," Rajani added.

Meanwhile, vice-captain Mahima Choudhary also stressed on the importance of the upcoming matches, and explained the team's strategy for this format of the game. "Every team participating here wants to win the tournament. It is a good opportunity for our players to get exposure and gain experience of playing under pressure situations."

She added, "Everyone in the Indian team wants to showcase and represent the nation well at the inaugural FIH Hockey 5s tournament. We hope we can deliver good performances."