New Delhi, Indian junior women's hockey coach Tim White says the country's next generation of players needs to improve physically to match top international standards.
White, who recently took charge after stints in Belgium and Australia, said while the talent pool in India is promising, bridging the physical gap will be critical to achieving sustained success at the highest level.
"I feel that for a group to be world-class, a country to be world-class, then physically they have to be world-class. When Belgium improved a lot, they improved a lot physically, along with other things," White said during a virtual interaction on Friday.
However, senior team coach Sjoerd Marijne believes India is moving in the right direction, but finishing remains an area of concern.
Marijne said the side is moving in the right direction, citing the team's 2-2 draw against world No. 2 Argentina in the recent series.
India showed steady improvement over the course of the tour, particularly in coping with the pace and physicality of the opposition.
While he was satisfied with the gains in fitness and mental resilience, Marijne admitted finishing remains an area of concern.
