NEW DELHI: For the Indian women’s hockey team, finishing fifth at the World Cup marks their best result in 52 years. Yet, beyond the pride of the campaign, a hunger lingers.
Though the squad lost only one match throughout the tournament against Netherlands, the 0-0 draw against Australia is still what pinches them. Fielding a squad with 11 World Cup debutants meant managing intense pressure, starting against Paris Olympics silver medallists China. Savita, boasting 319 international caps, spoke about her on vulnerabilities to boost her younger teammates. That vital 2-2 draw against China set the tone, but the foundation for their belief was laid during the successful Nations Cup run and a rigorous practice series against Argentina in the build-up. His compatriot and 2024 Paris Olympics champion Pirmin Blaak has been refining goalkeeping and match-awareness.
For veteran goalkeeper Savita Punia, the campaign was a testament to how far the team has evolved, shifting from a mindset of survival. “There was a time when we used to focus on conceding the least amount of goals against the top teams. Now, we play with the same attacking mindset with Netherlands but with more discipline in defence. Dutch drag-flick legend Taeke Taekema helped sharpen the penalty corner routines. The returning Wayne Lombard has raised the team’s physical conditioning. “For us, every match is a duel. We want to take every match as seriously as possible and qualify for LA.”
“We came here thinking that we have to do something in the World Cup, and that meant our team was capable enough to finish on the podium,” Savita told HT from Amsterdam before boarding the flight to Bengaluru. “Getting motivation is a good thing, but being overconfident is just as bad,” she said, emphasising that India should be wary of Japan, South Korea and Malaysia too, and not just defending champions China.
