Bhubaneswar, Feb 17 (NationPress) The Indian women’s hockey team is keen to return to their winning form as they gear up to challenge Spain in their upcoming FIH Pro League matches on February 18 and 19 at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium.

Following an encouraging start with a thrilling 3-2 win over England in their first match, the Salima Tete-led squad narrowly missed securing a bonus point in their second fixture, experiencing a 2-1 defeat in a tense shootout after the game concluded 2-2 in regulation time.

Despite exhibiting determination, India currently stands in eighth position in the rankings with four points from two matches and aims to ascend the points table as they confront a confident Spanish team.

India’s display against England showcased their capabilities, especially in penalty corner conversions, scoring twice from three attempts in their opening match. However, they struggled to maintain this performance in the subsequent game, failing to convert any of their three penalty corners.

Vice-captain Navneet Kaur, the team's leading scorer thus far, has been impressive, netting a goal in each of the two matches and providing crucial support to the Indian forward line. The team is concentrating on refining crucial skills such as set-piece execution and defensive organization as they prepare to face Spain.

Conversely, Spain arrives with confidence after achieving two consecutive victories against Germany during the Indian leg of the FIH Pro League, winning both matches 2-1 and bolstering their morale ahead of their clashes with India.

Despite their recent success, Spain has had a mixed overall performance, with only two wins and one shootout victory in six matches played thus far. Presently positioned fourth in the standings with eight points, Spain aims to solidify their standing. Patricia Alvarez has emerged as a key player, contributing two goals to lead the team's scoring tally.

For India, this doubleheader is pivotal not only for regaining momentum but also for accumulating essential points that will influence the remainder of their campaign. The host team will look to harness the support of the home crowd and rectify errors made in previous matches.

Commenting on the upcoming matches against Spain, India captain Salima Tete stated, "We’re eager for our encounters against Spain. They are a challenging team, and we anticipate a tough competition. Nevertheless, we are prepared for the challenge. We’ve reviewed our performance against England and pinpointed areas needing improvement, particularly in converting penalty corners. We are focused on strengthening our defense and maximizing our scoring chances."

"These matches are vital for us to build momentum, and we are committed to returning to our winning ways. The team is enthusiastic, and we will strive to secure crucial points," she added.