Indian Women’s Hockey Team Aims to Avoid Complacency at Asian Games

The Indian women’s hockey team, led by Captain Savita Punia, is gearing up to end a decades-long quest for gold at the upcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou later this month. Their only gold medal at the Asian Games was achieved back in 1982, and they are determined to change that.

With recent commendable performances, including narrowly missing a bronze medal at the Olympics and clinching victory in the Women’s FIH Hockey Nations Cup, the team is riding high on confidence. However, they are well aware of the competitive landscape they face.

In their Asian Games group, India is joined by South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong. While South Korea is expected to be their toughest opponent, Captain Savita emphasized that complacency is not an option against any of the teams.

The team is taking lessons from the past and ensuring they approach every match with the utmost seriousness, regardless of the opponent’s perceived strength. Hockey India President and former India men’s international, Dilip Tirkey, stressed the importance of not underestimating supposedly weaker teams, and Savita echoed this sentiment.

Their goal is clear: to win the gold medal. However, they are cautious not to burden the younger players with excessive pressure. Instead, they plan to take it one match at a time.

The Indian women’s hockey team kicks off their Asian Games campaign against Singapore on September 27, fully committed to their mission of reclaiming gold and breaking the 41-year drought.

Re-reported from the article originally published in The Hindu