As the Indian women’s team gears up for the under-18 Asia Cup in Japan, there is both anticipation and belief that this group can announce itself on the continental stage.

Months of preparation, including gruelling training camps, and hard-fought exposure matches against Australia in Bhopal have helped fuel that faith. At the centre of the movement is former India captain Rani Rampal, now tasked with guiding the next generation through their first steps in international hockey. “My focus is not on the opponent, we are our own opponent. It doesn’t matter what the other teams are doing or not doing,” head coach Rani told The Hindu.

Placed in Pool A, India will open its campaign against Malaysia on Saturday before taking on South Korea on Sunday and Singapore on Tuesday. The top-two teams from the group will advance to the semifinals on June 5, with the final to be played on June 6. “If we stick to our plan and improve day by day, results will come automatically. For example, we need to have a good penalty corner conversion rate... we need to defend well too.”

Rani backed her side to put on a good show and said the nerves of the big stage were actually a good sign. “Nerves are welcome. They show that you care. I have taught my players that if we prepare well, we can draw confidence from it in the tournament. We can believe that we did our very best. We don’t focus on the result, we focus on the process of what we have to do for the result.”

The Asia Cup will be a special one for many — maiden international event and the first flight journey — making the excitement in the squad impossible to miss. Even a no-nonsense coach like Rani is not oblivious to these humane elements. “I told them to make good memories. So, maybe 10 years later, they will have incredible stories to look back on”.