In Amstelveen, Sushila looking to make up for 2018 World Cup miss

World Cup due to an injury, experienced India midfielder Sushila Chanu is looking to the upcoming edition of the tournament to make amends. Sushila may have played 208 matches for India but the tournament in the Netherlands will be her maiden World Cup appearance. "In 2018, I missed playing the World Cup in London due to an injury.

Subsequently, I struggled with form which resulted in me missing out on the Asian Games that year. It was perhaps one of the biggest lows of my career. "It was a difficult phase but I was determined to overcome it and earn my place in the squad again," recalled an emotional Sushila.

While the tournament starts on July 1, India begin their campaign against England on July 3. The 30-year-old made a strong comeback and has played a significant role in the team's progress over the past four years after missing out on the Asian Games in 2018. "For many of my teammates, it's their second outing at the World Cup but for me, it's a first.

It is an emotional moment for me and I surely believe it will be a memorable one for us," she said on the sidelines of the team's practice match against Chile on Tuesday evening. She was part of India's triumph at both the FIH Olympic Qualifications and the FIH Series Finals in Bhubaneswar. The 2014 Asian Games bronze medallist also played a role in the team's historic fourth-place at the Tokyo Olympics last year.