Mentally preparing for the Tri Nations Women’s International Hockey tournament in Cromwell are (from left) Japanese national captain Natsuki Naito, New Zealand national captain Ella Gunson and Australian national captain Emily Smith, surrounded by pupils of the Cromwell College kapa haka group.
They were at the tournament’s official welcome at Highlands Motorsport Park last night.
The captains may look friendly now, but the three teams are set to battle it out over the next eight days and one will take away the big win.
Photo: Tom Kitchin
Pupils from the kapa haka group welcomed the teams to Cromwell with a waiata and haka.
Officials, including Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan, welcomed the teams to the district and all three teams joined in for a round of Tutira Mai Nga Iwi.
The first game is at 4.30pm today when the New Zealand Black Sticks take on Japan.
