Indian women’s team aims to put behind Asia Cup heartbreak, learn from mistakes, negatives to achieve WC qualification
(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Indian women’s hockey team captured a silver medal at the Asia Cup held in Bihar, but lost the final 4‑1 to China. After the game, key players discussed what went wrong, what they learned, and how they’ll prepare for next year’s World Cup qualifiers.
Salima Tete, the team captain, said the squad is very fit but must improve in the closing stages of matches. She blamed the five‑goal loss to China on an inability to defend late in the game. “We look good on the field, but the end‑phase is where we drop points,” Tete told reporters. To fix that, the team will start a new training camp on October 12 and later add preparation for the Hockey India League before the qualifiers.
Forward Mumtaaz Khan, a player from IndianOil, urged the team to adopt a “never give up” mindset. “When we concede, we still have to fight on,” she said. Khan praised Tete’s leadership and added that watching the men’s team win silver medals at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics makes the women proud and motivates them to aim for medals of their own.
Defender Udita Duhan highlighted the gap between domestic and international play. “We learn a lot from the domestic tournaments,” she said. “If we bring that knowledge to the national camp, it benefits the whole squad.” Duhan also spoke about the importance of senior players, noting that the absence of veteran drag‑flicker Deepika and goalkeeper Savita made the team feel inexperienced in the final.
Goalkeeper Bichu Devi mentioned the loss of key senior players and the impact on penalty‑corner scoring. “Many youngsters played, but senior experience was missing,” she said. Bichu lauded the men’s team for their direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup, calling their consistency the reason hockey has regained prominence in India.
The men’s national team also secured direct qualification for the World Cup with a 4‑1 win over South Korea, a result that the women’s squad celebrated. Players expressed confidence that the men’s success will inspire future Indian hockey stars.
What’s next? The Indian women’s team will sharpen its late‑game performance, add a dedicated drag‑flicker, and build on lessons from domestic tournaments. With the upcoming camp and the Hockey India League, they aim to finish stronger at the World Cup qualifiers and look forward to a chance to medal on the global stage.
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