India begin their quest for qualification to the 2018 Women's hockey World Cup in London, when they start their World League Semi-final campaign in Johannesburg on Saturday against home team South Africa.
Placed in Pool B in the 10-team Semi-final tournament, India will not only aim for a top-five finish to make it to their first World Cup in eight years, but also hope to make the semis and make the World League Final in New Zealand in November, a stage of the World League they have never made in the past.
How are they expected to fare, and what are the areas they must excel in to progress? Here are some answers.
What is the World League?
The World League is a qualifier event, held every two years in four stages, for the Olympics and the World Cup.
12th-ranked India's best finish in the World League in the past has been a fifth-place finish in one of the two World League Semi-finals in 2015, a 1-0 win over Japan helping them qualify for their first appearance at the Olympics in 36 years in Rio de Janeiro last year.
The previous World League saw them miss out on World Cup qualification, as they could only manage seventh place in the Semi-finals stage in Rotterdam in 2013.
India's chances?
The draw has not been unkind to India - among the 10, there are only five teams ranked higher than India, including second-ranked England, who being the hosts of the 16-team World Cup are qualified already. This would mean India could also make it to the World Cup with a sixth-place finish, provided England finish ahead of them.
India's group comprises two-time world champions Argentina (3) and Rio Olympics quarterfinalists USA (6) as teams ranked higher than them. The fact that they open their campaign against South Africa, ranked one place lower, would mean India must look to log three points to enhance their chances of a top-four finish to keep their quarterfinal hopes alive. Chile, ranked 20th in the world, are the fifth team in the pool, and India beat them on shootouts in April to qualify for Johannesburg.
Who are the Indian players to watch out for?
As is often the case with the Indian team, the biggest hopes for finding goals lie with captain Rani Rampal, one of few players in the current team to have played the World Cup in Argentina in 2010, when 15-year-old Rani was adjudged the best young player of the tournament. Anupa Barla emerged as a good attacking prospect in the 5-0 series defeat in New Zealand in May, and goalkeeper Savita Punia's performances will be key, especially against higher-ranked opposition.
Defender Gurjit Kaur is the only drag-flick specialist in the team, and must weigh in with goals to take the load off the forwards. The midfield however looks solid with the experience of Ritu Rani, Lilima Minz and Navjot Kaur.
How have India's preparations been?
Keeping in mind the cold weather in South Africa at this time, the Indian women have had a camp at the Sports Authority of India complex in Shillaroo, Himachal Pradesh through the early part of June. According to Dutch head coach Sjoerd Marijne, the emphasis on the players' fitness and speed was just as much as that on the overall playing structure.
If India can beat at least two of their pool opponents and get another draw from the two games against Argentina and USA, they might find themselves in a quarter-final clash against any of Japan, Ireland or Poland, all nations they have beaten in recent years.
If they fall short in the World League, they will have another chance by winning the Asia Cup in Japan in October. That would be easier said than done, with China and Korea already having booked their berth for the World League Final with top-four finishes in the first World League Semi-final in Brussels last week.
India's matches
South Africa: July 8 (9.30 PM IST)
USA: July 10 (9.30 PM IST)
Chile: July 12 (3.30 PM IST)
Argentina: July 16 (9.30 PM IST)
Squad
Goalkeepers: Savita Punia, Rajani Etimarpu
Defenders: Deep Grace Ekka, Sunita Lakra, Gurjit Kaur, Sushila Chanu (Vice Captain), Monika Malik
Midfielders: Renuka Yadav, Nikki Pradhan, Namita Toppo, Navjot Kaur, Ritu Rani, Lilima Minz
Forwards: Reena Khokhar, Rani Rampal (Captain), Vandana Katariya, Anupa Barla, Preeti Dubey