Top News

Amstelveen: Veteran goalkeeper Savita Punia, who has seen many ups and downs in Indian women's hockey for more than a decade, while giving credit for the excellent performance in the World Cup to the changed environment within the team, said that the feeling of doing something is visible in the eyes of the players. India defeated higher-ranked Germany 3-1 and secured fifth place in the World Cup, which is the best performance of the women's hockey team since 1974.

Savita, who has played 319 international matches and is one match away from equaling the record of playing most matches for India, said in an interview given to the agency, “After the arrival of coach Shored Marin and the entire new staff, we had decided that we have to enjoy, laugh and talk outside the field. Earlier it was not like this and everyone used to keep their thoughts in mind, but today every player talks to each other quite openly. Whatever I want to say today, I can say it to the team.'' She said, ''The coaching staff has created such an environment that I feel from within that I have to do something. This is visible in the eyes of all the players, in their workouts, in their practice.'' The Indian women's hockey team, which missed qualifying for the Paris Olympics and was out of the Pro League last year, qualified for the World Cup this year and after returning to the Pro League by winning the FIH Nations Cup, finished fifth in the World Cup. But it remained.

'There were tears of sadness after the draw against Australia, today there are tears of happiness': Savita Punia

The Indian team lost only one match in the World Cup to the Netherlands but was out of the race for the semi-finals due to a goalless draw in the last match of the second round against Australia, after which the picture of Savita trying to control tears in the dugout went viral. This experienced goalkeeper said, “Standing behind the goalpost, I was thinking that if 50 percent of the hockey that I played against Germany had been played against Australia, I would have been in the semi-finals.” That day I cried because of sadness but today there were tears of happiness. A lot of messages came that it was not nice to see you crying on TV. People also said that no one had thought that the team would play the fifth place match.'' This player, who missed a medal in the Tokyo Olympics 2021 too, said, ''But perhaps I also needed time to recover from that shock. I am very lucky that that day the team also took care of me and said let's see what we can do in the next match.'' He said, ''It took me two hours to recover but that day in the evening everyone sat together and talked that now there is nothing to lose and if we have to show our hockey and get respect, then in any case, if we finish fifth, then the world should feel that we have lost only one match and really Indian hockey is getting better. ''

Star forward Navneet Kaur's big statement: 'We had to play well for the future of Indian women's hockey'

Meanwhile, experienced forward Navneet Kaur, who scored two goals against Germany, said that she had to play well for the future of Indian women's hockey. She said, “We were playing for ourselves, for our family and for the country, but we also had to play well for the future of Indian women's hockey so that more girls play hockey in India.” Navneet, who had appealed to save the league in a conversation with Bhasha two days ago, said, “Now people will understand our appeal for the Women's Hockey India League that we really want to do better and can do it.” We want to qualify for the Olympics. What we have done in this World Cup, now we have the confidence that we can beat any team.