Focus is on ceasing early goals, making imposing starts: Nilakanta Sharma

World Cup next year, said midfielder Nilakanta Sharma. India's Commonwealth Games campaign in Birmingham ended in a disappointing 0-7 drubbing at the hands of Australia in the final last month. In that match the Manpreet Singh-led side had conceded five goals in the first half itself.

"We have been going through the video tapes of our matches in CWG ever since the camp started and we have been working to make sure that we don't concede any early goals," Nilkanata said in a media release. "If we start strong, we can go on to build on our performance throughout the game." In next year's World Cup at home, India are grouped in pool D along with England, Spain and Wales. They begin their campaign in Rourkela on the opening day against Spain on January 13.

"We have to face quite a few strong sides in the group stage of the World Cup and we don't want to end up feeling like we haven't performed our best at the end, so a good start is crucial for a good showing on home turf," Nilakanta stated. "Our aim at the World Cup is to get a medal, no matter what. We hope to qualify for the knockouts comfortably even though we face strong teams in the group stage and then focus on getting results against any team that stands in our way." Ahead of the World Cup the Indian team will take on New Zealand and Spain in the FIH Pro League in Bhubaneswar.