About an hour ahead of India's opening Pool B encounter against hosts South Africa in the World League Semi-finals in Johannesburg on Saturday, the broadcasters cut to the change rooms during the USA-Chile match that preceded it to show the two teams getting ready for their opening game.
The contrast was visible, with the South Africans singing and dancing in their dark green jackets, while the Indian women volleyed a hockey ball around - nervously posing for the camera as it slipped out of control of a couple of players - even as captain Rani Rampal sat with a stone face, contemplating the importance of making a good start to their World Cup qualifying campaign.
The pre-game shot proved a portent of things to come, as a combination of good defending by 12th-ranked India as well as poor finishing by world number 13 South Africa -- who had a 34th-minute goal by Sulette Damons disallowed following an Indian referral -- produced a goalless draw in a one-sided game between the two teams.
India came away with a point, but will have to improve on a lot of counts to achieve their first objective, which would be to qualify for the quarterfinals of this tournament by finishing in the top four in what promises to be a very competitive group.
Savita shines under the bar
The defence was good for India, but the tone was set by the experienced goalkeeper Savita Punia as early as the 9th minute. South Africa's Tarryn Glasby was able to squeeze into space down the left channel and took a speculative shot, which was palmed away by Savita. Through the rest of the half, it seemed the South Africans were growing in confidence, moving in and out of the Indian circle with ease, but Damons, Shelley Jones and Quanita Bobbs all found it hard to beat Savita.
She was beaten a couple of times though, once in the 28th minute when Damons' pass from the left got her to commit to narrowing the angle and missing the flight of the ball, but Jade Mayne deflected the ball just over the goal. In the 34th minute, Damons swooped on the ball at the unprotected far post after Savita had effected another save off Illse Davids, but India referred the decision and replays showed the ball had come off Bernadette Coston's body inside the Indian circle.
Lesser players could have buckled under the pressure, but Savita pulled off some brilliant saves in the last five minutes as well, leading her defence all the way through a tough game to start the Indian campaign.
India miss a trick with safety-first tactics
India actually made the brighter start of the two teams, mixing some aerial balls with hard, low passes into the path of the likes of Rani, Vandana Katariya, Nikki Pradhan and Anupa Barla, but the rhythm of the forwards seemed missing in the early exchanges.
Perhaps it could have to do with the conditions, both in terms of the weather and altitude of Johannesburg, as well as the fact that all teams appeared to take their time to adjust to the turf at the Wits Hockey Club (four matches on the opening day of the women's competition produced just four goals, with no team able to score more than one), but India seemed to decide to play for a point quite early in the match.
This is where the tactical nous and experience of players like Deep Grace Ekka, Sushila Chanu and Ritu Rani kicked in, as they kept their calm even when pressed on by three or four opponents at one go. Through most of the pressure, they made sure they kept their bodies and feet out of the way of the ball inside the circle, resulting in India not conceding a single penalty corner in the first 51 minutes of the match.
India did miss a trick towards the end of the second quarter, when Bobbs was shown the green card. India stuck to their deep defensive game rather than looking to take advantage of having an extra player on the pitch.
Sporadic moments of brilliance
Indian hockey has always been characterised by individual skill, and that was on display on occasions in the match. Inside the first 10 minutes, there was a diagonal ball from deep inside the Indian half released by Ritu for Rani, but the Indian captain just failed to control the ball, otherwise she could have found herself one-on-one with the 'keeper.
Late in the third quarter, Ritu was in the thick of things again, initiating a rare counter-attack with pace and skill by the right side-line. She released Vandana, who in one touch played in Preeti Dubey, who had sped past her marker and was into the circle. On another night, Preeti would have needed just a touch on the ball to get the job done, but here she found herself inches short of making contact.
Such phases of play will need to be more precise and much more frequent as the competition increases.
Improved midfield efficiency key against USA
The Indian team is known for keeping its cool, and that was evident on Saturday, barring one indiscretion that made Gurjit Kaur see a yellow card in the 51st minute. It also gave South Africa their only penalty corner of the game, but Savita ensured there would be no alarms, as she read South Africa's variation perfectly and palmed away an effort by Glasby.
India themselves earned two penalty corners and would be disappointed neither resulted in a fair shot on goal. The first, which came as early as the 13th minute, saw Gurjit's effort neutralised by a brave run from the first rusher. India appeared to put more thought into the second, early in the fourth quarter, but Rani's slap was again deflected by the rusher, and then saved by goalkeeper Nicole la Fleur.
With USA - the 6th-ranked team that beat 20th-ranked Chile 1-0 - up next on July 10, India must show improvement in both their finishing as well as midfield efficiency to signal their intent in the competition. Coach Sjoerd Marijne must get them to replicate their defensive grit, but look to be a bit more adventurous, especially against the Americans who had beaten them 3-0 when they last met during the Rio Olympics last August.