5 days ago
Savita Punia Says India Women’s Hockey Is On Track
India’s women’s hockey team finished fifth at the World Cup.
This was its best World Cup result in more than 50 years.
The team had been very disappointed after missing the semifinals.
It then played strongly and beat Germany 3-1.
Goalkeeper Savita Punia said the players now talk more openly and support one another.
She said the team also has more confidence in its attacking game.
Eleven players were taking part in their first World Cup.
Savita and Navneet Kaur want a women’s hockey league to help young players improve.
The team now hopes to reach the Los Angeles Olympics by winning the Asian Games.
India finished fifth at the World Cup, its best result in more than five decades.
Goalkeeper Savita Punia credited coach Sjoerd Marijne and new support staff with improving team communication and morale.
India recovered from a semifinal disappointment by defeating higher-ranked Germany 3-1.
Savita and Navneet Kaur called for the revival of the Women’s Hockey India League to develop young players.
India hopes to qualify for the Los Angeles Olympics by winning gold at the Asian Games.
- Who
- India’s women’s hockey team, led in the article by goalkeeper Savita Punia and forward Navneet Kaur.
- What
- India finished fifth at the World Cup after defeating Germany 3-1, marking its best result in more than five decades.
- Where
- At the World Cup; the articles do not specify the venue.
- When
- After India’s World Cup campaign; the articles do not provide an exact date.
- Why
- The team wanted to recover from missing the semifinals, demonstrate its progress and build toward Olympic qualification.
Key facts
- World Cup finish
- Fifth place
- Historical significance
- India’s best World Cup result in more than five decades
- Final victory
- India defeated higher-ranked Germany 3-1
- Tournament record
- India lost once during the campaign, to the Netherlands
- Savita Punia
- Veteran goalkeeper with 319 international caps
- Olympic goal
- Qualify for Los Angeles by winning gold at the Asian Games
- Development proposal
- Revive the Women’s Hockey India League
Quotes
Savita Punia
Veteran India women’s hockey goalkeeper and senior international player
“But perhaps I also needed time to recover from that shock. That evening we all discussed that there was nothing left to lose. If we wanted to show what we are capable of and earn respect, we should finish fifth at any cost so the world could see that we only lost one match and that Indian hockey was truly improving.”
rediff.com
“We didn't lose focus and were disciplined. We strategised match by match and didn't think about the results. We focused on our hockey and will continue to do so in the future.”
rediff.com
Sources
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