India's table tennis coach Peter Engel wants the women's paddlers to replicate their practice form in competition and play fearlessly in the World Team Championships, beginning in Tokyo next week.
"Though I am satisfied with the progress of the men's team, the women have not been able to translate their level of practice play in tournaments. Unlike men, they don't get to play against quality opponents often and that is why they are missing the confidence needed in international events," Engel told PTI from Patiala where he conducted a week-long camp with the World Championships squad.
Both men and women will be playing in the second division of the biennial competition, having 24 teams in either category. The championship division will see the world's top 24 teams battling it out.
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India finished 27th in either class in the previous edition in Dortmund in 2012 and Engel is expecting both teams to put up a better show this time.
"The aim should be to fight hard and do better than last time. The men are certainly capable of winning the second division title," said the German.
India find themselves in the lower men's division despite being ranked 21 and having a top-50 player in Sharath Kamal, who equalled his career-best ranking of 39 this month.
"The boys have a lot of talent and potential. Sharath has been the mainstay for a long time and now Ghosh (Soumyajit) and Harmeet (Desai) have burst onto the scene. Most importantly, they are young and will only get better," said Engel.
The improvement in the men's line-up is evident with four players now in the top-150 of the world rankings.
"I see Ghosh and Harmeet breaking the top-100 barrier soon," added Engel.
