Indian Women's Hockey Team Aims to Defend Asian Champions Trophy Title

Indian Women’s Hockey Team Aims to Defend Asian Champions Trophy Title

The Indian women’s hockey team embarks on a new Olympic cycle with the defense of its Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) title at home. Having endured a challenging year with limited victories, the team aims to turn the tide and showcase their resilience.

Led by captain Salima Tete, India boasts a blend of youth and experience. Striker Navneet Kaur serves as Tete’s deputy, bringing a wealth of attacking prowess. The team faces stiff competition from reigning Olympic silver medalists China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand.

India’s defense will be anchored by a solid lineup featuring Udita, Jyoti, Ishika Chaudhary, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, and Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke. The midfield will be marshaled by Tete, Neha, Sharmila Devi, Manisha Chauhan, Sunelita Toppo, and Lalremsiami.

The forward line-up boasts the likes of Navneet Kaur, Sangita Kumari, Deepika, Preeti Dubey, and Beauty Dungdung. Goalkeeping duties will be shared between the experienced Savita and rising talent Bichu Devi Kharibam.

Sushila and Beauty Dungdung make their return to the team after successful rehabilitation. India enters the tournament as one of the favorites alongside China, ranked sixth in the world. South Korea has won the tournament thrice, while Japan has claimed it twice.

After missing out on Olympic qualification, India’s new coach Harendra Singh aims to instill a renewed sense of purpose and focus on fitness. Captain Tete acknowledges the team’s past struggles and emphasizes the importance of moving forward.

The tournament marks the beginning of a new journey for the Indian women’s hockey team, with their sights set on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Indian Women's Hockey Team Embarks on New Era at Asian Champions Trophy

Indian Women’s Hockey Team Embarks on New Era at Asian Champions Trophy

The Indian women’s hockey team embarks on a new chapter at the Asian Champions Trophy in Rajgir, Bihar, under the guidance of coach Harendra Singh. The team has endured a challenging period, failing to qualify for the Paris Olympics and struggling to regain their former glory.

Harendra, a seasoned coach with experience in both men’s and women’s hockey, has identified a need for cultural change within the team. He has eliminated the leadership group, emphasizing that all players are equal and have the potential to lead.

“I felt somewhere it (team unity) was missing,” Harendra said. “I want to start from zero. I have come here to support you. I will support and guide a player-driven program.”

Harendra believes in empowering the players and fostering a sense of responsibility. He encourages them to question and challenge themselves, while also providing a supportive environment.

“I want my players to come to me and ask questions,” he said. “This pampering business has been going on. This will be a slow journey, and a tough journey.”

The team’s captain, Salima Tete, a dynamic midfielder with over 100 international caps, will play a crucial role in inspiring her teammates on the pitch.

Harendra is eager to witness the players’ progress in this new phase. He emphasizes the importance of fitness, camaraderie, and the ability to perform under pressure.

“Modern hockey has completely changed,” he said. “Indian players are skillful with the stick; that’s their attacking strength. But you should know when to use it and create opportunities for using it.”

The Asian Champions Trophy will feature defending champions India, Paris Olympics silver medallist China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand. Harendra is excited to start this new chapter in his home state of Bihar and is confident in the team’s potential.

Harendra Singh Embarks on Rebuilding Mission for Indian Women's Hockey Team

Harendra Singh Embarks on Rebuilding Mission for Indian Women’s Hockey Team

Harendra Singh, the Dronacharya awardee, has returned as the chief coach of the Indian women’s hockey team with the daunting task of rebuilding the squad after their failure to qualify for the Paris Olympics. In an exclusive interview, Singh discusses the team’s progress, areas of improvement, and his long-term vision for the team.

Upon his return, Singh quickly assessed the team’s strengths and weaknesses. He identified fitness as a major concern, noting that the players lacked the endurance to sustain high-intensity play for 60 minutes. Additionally, he emphasized the need to strengthen the team’s penalty corner (PC) defense and attack.

“PC conversion and PC defending are crucial for winning medals in the Olympics,” Singh said. “We have good players, but we need to work on these two areas.”

To address these issues, Singh is working with a group of players to develop their drag-flicking skills. He believes that having a pool of drag-flickers will give India a significant advantage in PC situations.

“We are working on the clearance of indirect passes where we lack and must strengthen,” Singh added. “Secondly, there are 5-6 girls with whom I am working on drag-flick which wasn’t there earlier.”

Singh also highlighted the importance of creating a large pool of players and providing them with opportunities to perform. He cited China’s success at the Paris Olympics as an example of this approach.

“China created a large pool of players and gave every player a platform to perform before the Olympics,” Singh said. “They went to Perth, Spain, and played practice matches against Australian and European teams.”

Singh is optimistic about India’s chances at the upcoming ACT, which will be his first full tournament as coach. He believes it will be an opportunity for the players to regain their confidence and build a strong foundation for the future.

“I am really excited about the ACT,” Singh said. “It is a chance for the players to regain their confidence and regain the trajectory where we want to move towards 2026 and 2028.”

Harendra Singh Frontrunner to Coach Indian Women's Hockey Team

Harendra Singh Frontrunner to Coach Indian Women’s Hockey Team

Harendra Singh, a seasoned coach with a proven track record in Indian hockey, has emerged as the frontrunner to replace Janneke Schopman as the head coach of the Indian women’s hockey team. Singh recently appeared for an interview with Hockey India, the national governing body, which has indicated that he is the preferred candidate to lead the team after its disappointing failure to qualify for the Paris Olympics.

Singh previously served as the head coach of the Indian women’s team from 2017 to 2018, guiding them to a gold medal at the 2017 Asia Cup. He also coached the Indian junior men’s team to victory at the 2016 Junior World Cup.

Sources within Hockey India have expressed confidence in Singh’s ability to revive the women’s team. “Harendra is the best person to take the women’s side to where it belongs,” said a source. “He knows the structure of Indian hockey and has a proven track record of success.”

However, negotiations over Singh’s salary could pose a challenge. As the current coach of the United States men’s team, Singh is reportedly earning a substantial salary. Hockey India’s salary cap for Indian coaches is Rs 3 lakh per month, but Singh may demand a higher amount.

Hockey India secretary-general Bhola Nath Singh confirmed that Harendra appeared for the interview but emphasized that no decision has been made yet. “There are 11-12 candidates, and we will decide taking into account every aspect,” he said.

If appointed, Singh will replace Schopman, who resigned last month citing a difficult work environment for foreign coaches in India. Schopman’s departure came after the women’s team failed to qualify for the Paris Olympics, a major setback for Indian hockey.

Singh’s appointment would mark a return to the helm of the Indian women’s team for the experienced coach. His previous stint with the team was cut short in 2018 when he was replaced by Dutchman Sjoerd Marijne.

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