The team has not lived up to expectations under coach Harendra Singh and will have a big task of winning the title in China to qualify for next year’s World Cup
The national women’s hockey team hasn’t produced the spark needed in high quality matches under the stewardship of chief national women’s hockey Harendra Singh.
The team now has the important task to win the 2025 Asia Cup title in China. The continental (September 5 to 14) event in Hangzhou assume importance as it will act as a qualifier for the FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup 2026 in Europe.
Going by the FIH ranking and recent past performances, China will be one team to watch and is ranked as high as fourth in the FIH table behind Netherlands (1), Argentina (2) and Belgium (3) in that order.
FIH ranking
India is ranked ninth in the FIH ranking table. Japan is ranked 12th. Korea is at 16th place. The Malaysian team is ranked 25th. Thailand’s rank is 30th, Singapore is 31st and Chinese Taipei is far below the table at 40th place.
At the 2024-2015 FIH Pro League held recently in Europe, the Indian team led by Salima Tete finished at the bottom of the nine nations table.
Going by the FIH rankings, India’s main competitor in the eight-nation continental event will be China. Other teams in the fray are unlikely to test India’s strength.
Indian skipper Salima Tete
Last week Hockey India announced a 20-member team for the Women’s Asian Cup in Hangzhou. Salima Tete will again lead the Indian team in the eight-nation continental competition in China. “The group has been training with great intensity and we have tried to strike a balance between experienced campaigners and young talent. Our focus will be on playing an aggressive and disciplined brand of hockey and we believe this team has the capability to compete strongly against the best in Asia,” Chief women’s hockey coach said in a statement via Hockey India.
After winning Asian Championships on home ground in Rajgir, Bihar in 2024, Indian team fumbled in quality competitions despite ample international exposure. The performance at the FIH Pro Hockey League in Europe in June was disappointing as Indian finished at the bottom of the table.
Despite not so encouraging performance in the recent past, Singh exuded confidence that players will raise the bar in China. “The players are motivated and we are confident of delivering performances that make India proud,” Singh said.
India in Pool B
India is clubbed in pool B with Japan, Thailand and Singapore. India face minnows Thailand in the opening match on September 5. Followed by a match against Japan on September 6. India will take on Singapore on September 8.
The Pool A will comprise of China, Korea, Malaysia and Chinese Taipei. China will take on Malaysia in the opening match. September 9 is a rest day. The main competition to win a berth for the final starts September 10.
Indian team: Goalkeeper: Bansari Solanki, Bichu Devi. Defenders: Manisha Chauhan, Udita, Jyoti, Suman Devi Thoudam, Nikki Pradhan, Ishika Chaudhary. Midfielders: Neha, Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke, Salima Tete, Sharmila Devi, Lalremsiami, Sunelita Toppo. Forwards: Navneet Kaur, Rutaja Dadaso Pisal, Beauty Dungdung, Mumtaz Khan, Deepika, Sangita Kumari.
ENDS
