Asian revolution

For the first time in a World Cup there were four women’s teams from Asia and after a series of twists and turns it was Japan who emerged as the rising stars finishing ahead of their traditional rivals to clinch a place in the Champions Trophy for the first time.

Claire Middleton from The Daily Telegraph (London) reports on the changes taking place in Asia.

Having gone into the women’s World Cup with high hopes, Asia’s four representatives were dealt a mixed hand when it came to results in Madrid.

China, who might have been expected to thrive, were a grave disappointment, India allowed themselves to be distracted by controversy, Korea lost their touch in front of goal and it was left to Japan to smile their way to the top six.

The Chinese had a chequered tournament to say the least: their opening-day loss to England sent them into a downward spiral which lasted until their final pool game when they beat India 1-0. Condemned to playing off for the 9^th-12 positions, they got over the shock and something like normal service was temporarily resumed. They dispatched South Africa but then went down to the Koreans to finish 10th and lose the bragging rights over all but one of their continental neighbours.

Their coach, Kim Changback, was asked about his feelings towards the 2006 World Cup. ‘I have no good feelings at all,’ he answered, with surprisingly good humour. ‘We had some physical problems – several players arrived in Madrid with colds – and our teamwork has not been good.

‘The players have tried their best but we have not played well and, of course, we have lost our ticket to the Champions Trophy. That is a shame because we wanted to play before Beijing but we will find solutions, solve these problems and adjust the team.’

Now, the conundrum is which Chinese team will turn up to the Asian Games, in December? The world’s fifth-ranked nation, the side which struggled to qualify for the World Cup, the squad which reached the Champions Trophy final or the one we saw in Madrid? The fact their Olympic place in Beijing is assured as hosts only serves to add to the puzzle.

India, meanwhile, had started impressively but fell away, notably following their 1-1 draw with England. Having lost, but more than held their own, against Netherlands and Germany, a disallowed goal just before half-time against the English proved the last straw.

In the event, they performed well in their next game against Spain but lost 3-2, the third time they had lost by a single goal, and they completed their sorry run of narrow defeats with the aforementioned 1-0 loss to China. Their first victory, and how welcome it was, came in their final crossover when they defeated South Africa to avoid the wooden spoon.

After beginning their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Japan, the Koreans might have expected to be in with a semi-final chance but, surprisingly, it was the lower-ranked sides which caused them significant problems.

Held to a 0-0 draw by a South African team who struggled throughout, they rediscovered their attacking form against Australia – but mislaid it in defence – and went down 4-3 in one of the most entertaining contests of the pool matches. Next up were Argentina, who won 2-0, but the fatal blow to their hopes of a decent finish was dealt by the doughty Americans who held out for a 1-0 win.

A storming first half against India resulted in a 4-1 victory, but the Koreans will be disappointed with their performance in the hockey world’s most prestigious event after the Olympics. Again, the Asian Games will provide a chance of redemption.

And so, finally to Japan. Ah yes, Japan. Climbing healthily up the rankings since their surprise qualification for Athens, they will be the side to watch in Doha, and, with China already home and dry as hosts, will be favourites to secure an Olympic berth for Beijing.

Their coach, Yoo Seung Jin, 37, has been in charge only since July but he has built on their defensive strengths while also hoping to increase their sense of adventure. Most importantly, his players clearly enjoy playing.

‘I have not been in charge for long but I am trying to change our tactics a little bit and add to our skills so we can score more goals,’ said Yoo, who prefers to be known as Jin ‘because it is friendlier’.

‘Many of our players went to Athens so they have played in the Olympics but we really wanted to make the Champions Trophy. That would be a first for Japan,’ he said.

 His team actually bounced back brilliantly from two defeats in their opening matches, the loss to Korea being followed by a 3-2 reverse at the hands of Argentina. Perhaps this flirtation with disaster, followed by an impressive regrouping, is why – after goalless draws with the United States and Australia, plus a 3-0 win over South Africa – they had the momentum when it came to facing England in their first crossover. Anyway, they were good value for their 2-0 win, earning the right to tackle the Americans with fifth place, and the final Champions’ Trophy slot, at stake. A 1-0 win against the United States confirmed their position as one of the world’s best defensive sides.

A Korean, Jin was a midfielder who represented his country at the Seoul and Atlanta Olympics but having enjoyed spells in both Australia and China, he has been in Japan for nine years. He was in charge of the Japanese men’s team that narrowly failed to qualify for the Sydney Olympics but is relishing his job with the women. ‘Women or men it’s no problem,’ he said, ‘I don’t mind. I just love coaching hockey.’

His other immediate desire is, in his words, to ‘connect’ the junior and senior Japanese teams. Most hockey players come through university and that makes it hard to put in place a structure that gives young talent a path to the top. Jin is aiming to change all that. As a two-time Asian champion himself, he has a fine playing pedigree. And the way his side performed in Spain, there is no reason to suspect that their place at the top of the Asian pecking order cannot be maintained in the challenges to come.