Indian Women's Hockey Team

The Indian women’s hockey team is gearing up for the FIH Hockey Olympic qualifiers in Ranchi, aiming to secure a spot in the Summer Games in Paris.

Quest for Paris Olympics: As the Olympic year begins, the focus shifts to quotas, rankings, and qualification events. The FIH Hockey Olympic qualifiers in Ranchi mark the first major event of 2024.

Tournament Details: The qualification tournament in Ranchi, from January 13-19, features eight teams divided into two groups. India is in Group B alongside New Zealand, the USA, and Italy.

Indian Squad: Led by Savita Punia, the squad includes experienced players like Nikki Pradhan and Lalremsiami. Vandana Katariya’s absence due to injury is a setback for the team.

Form and Performances: Since their loss to China in the Asian Games, the Indian team, under coach Janneke Schopman, has shown good form. They dominated the Asian Champions Trophy and secured bronze at the Asian Games.

Coach’s Perspective: Coach Schopman emphasizes the team’s focus on playing to their strengths and potential. She acknowledges the challenges, stating, “All the other teams know who we are and that we can play some really good hockey.”

Expectations and Pressure: After achieving a historic fourth-place finish in Tokyo 2021, the team faces different challenges this time. The shift from underdogs to contenders brings added pressure, especially playing in front of home fans in Ranchi.

Mental Fortitude and Pressure Management: Captain Savita acknowledges the pressure and mentions the team’s efforts in managing it. The mental conditioning coach, Peter Harberl, plays a crucial role in supporting the team on the sidelines.

Squad Dynamics and Opponents: In the absence of Rani Rampal and Gurjit Kaur, Savita will lead a young squad, including Sangita Kumari and Salima Tete. Coach Schopman analyzes opponents, highlighting the importance of penalty corners and defensive structure.

Historical Connection: Four years ago, under Sjoerd Marijne, India beat Schopman’s USA to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. Now, India’s Olympic dreams are once again linked to Schopman as they aim for Paris.

The Indian women’s hockey team faces a crucial challenge in the FIH Hockey Olympic qualifiers, striving to secure a spot at the Paris Olympics and continue their remarkable journey in international hockey.

Re-reported from the article originally published in The Hindu