Bhubaneswar, February 13: Salima Tete, the captain of India’s women’s hockey team, believes her squad is poised for a stronger performance as they gear up for the Bhubaneswar segment of the FIH Pro League starting Saturday. The team is determined not to be hindered by last season’s disappointing results.
India will kick off their campaign against England at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium, aiming to overcome the recollections of finishing eighth last season, where they only outperformed the United States.
Other competing teams include Germany, Spain, and the world No. 1 ranked Netherlands.
Last season, India managed to score just 16 goals, in stark contrast to the Netherlands, who netted an astonishing 63 goals.
Currently, India holds the ninth position in the world rankings, while Germany sits at fourth, England at seventh, and Spain at eighth.
“While last season was disappointing, I believe we are well-prepared and trained to perform better this time,” Tete expressed before the tournament.
India’s matches in the Pro League will commence with two encounters against England on February 15 and 16, followed by games against Spain on February 18 and 19.
They will also face tough matches against Germany and the world No. 1 Netherlands on February 21, 22, and February 24, 25 respectively.
“We are eager to compete at the Kalinga Stadium again and aim to secure as many points as possible. We are up against formidable opponents, but I am confident the girls are ready to face the challenge and give their best on the field,” Tete added.
Harendra Singh, the head coach, expressed optimism regarding the team’s chances against favorably ranked competitors.
“The girls have trained rigorously in practice, and I am confident that our squad is capable of competing at the same level as our opponents. With the home crowd’s support, we are focused on achieving maximum points in these critical matches,” he stated.
In November of last year, India celebrated their third Asian Champions Trophy title by defeating China at home, providing them with a much-needed boost after missing out on qualification for the Paris Olympics.
The lineup features a combination of seasoned players such as Savita, Sushila Chanu, Nikki Pradhan, Vandana Katariya, Udita, Lalremsiami, and Sharmila Devi, alongside promising young talents like Deepika, Sunelita Toppo, and Jyoti, making for a well-composed squad. (PTI)
