A RevSportz Exclusive
As the national Women’s Hockey Team gears up for a crucial five-match tour of Australia, from April 26 to May 4, 2025, Hockey India has announced a 26-member squad featuring a compelling mix of experience and fresh talent. Among the most exciting developments is the inclusion of five debutants—Jyoti Singh, Sujata Kujur, Ajmina Kujur, Pooja Yadav, and Mahima Tete—who have been called up to the senior national team for the very first time.
In an exclusive interview with RevSportz, head coach Harendra Singh opens up about the process behind selecting these promising youngsters. He shares insights on how each of them caught his eye, the attributes that make them stand out, the areas they’re still developing, and how they fit into the long-term vision of Indian women’s hockey.
Here’s what he said about the players.
On Jyoti Singh
“Jyoti is a part of our Junior Pro program and currently serves as the captain. For the past nine months, she has been training with us in junior doubles, and we’ve seen significant progress in her game. We felt that she was ready to take the next step, which is why we gave her a chance in the matches against Holland and Germany.
The way she holds her position and plays, reflects strong potential for the future. We also have a long-term vision with our juniors, particularly with a target set for 20-year development. Introducing a few young players into the senior environment helps them understand the system, the culture, and the expectations we have.
Technically, many of them are sound, but what they lack is match experience. For any major tournament, I believe each player should have at least 25–35 matches under their belt, and that’s part of our planning. That’s why Jyoti is very much in our system and thoughts.
She plays as a defender, but in my team, no defender chooses a fixed position. You must be flexible to play anywhere — whether it’s defence, midfield, or striker — because the flow of the game demands it. When you’re marking man-to-man and your player shifts from left to right, you must know the responsibilities of that new position. Jyoti is developing well in this regard, and she has shown she can handle multiple roles across the defensive line.”
On Sujata Kujur
“To be honest, I’m really impressed with Sujata’s performance in the central midfield role, both in training and during the nationals. She has an athletic build and excellent peripheral vision. I was looking for a player who could quickly switch the ball from one side of the field to the other without wasting time – someone with good peripheral vision — and she has made notable progress in this area.
This is her first time at a senior national camp, and naturally, she had some self-doubt initially. But in just two or three days, the way she performed convinced us to invest in her development. We’re building a pool of young talent for the future.
One of her standout skills is one-on-one tackling; transferring the ball and switching the play keeping her eyes straight – a skill highly demanding in modern-day hockey. She’s also excellent at high-speed ball transfers, which are essential in modern hockey.”
On Ajmina Kujur
“Ajmina has been part of the national setup for quite some time. She played in the junior ranks and is now in her sixth term with us in the camp. Interestingly, she’s the only player I haven’t yet given an opportunity to represent the senior team, despite her consistent presence in camps over the last two to three years.
She’s been in and out of the squad, but I believe now is the right time to test her, especially against a team like Australia. These are the matches that show how a player copes under pressure. From there, we can assess her strengths and identify areas for improvement.
She has been with us consistently for the past year, has a strong athletic build, and is highly coachable. She certainly deserves this chance.”
Also Read: Coach Harendra Singh Exclusive: Win against the Netherlands, Hockey India League, LA 28 and more!
On Pooja Yadav
“Pooja hails from Uttar Pradesh and brings that typical UP-style hockey — energetic, fast, and direct. She has excellent communication on the field and a lot of energy. While we’re still refining her technical skills, tactical training can be developed at any stage. What’s crucial is that she already possesses good technique and strong communication abilities.
We’re building her up as a solid midfielder. She really impressed during the National Championship while playing for UP, particularly in controlling the game and transferring the ball efficiently.
One of her standout abilities is her skill with high balls — a huge asset in modern hockey. This skill helps in breaking the opponent’s defence, especially when facing a full press. When you have fast strikers up front, breaking that first line with a high ball opens up scoring opportunities.”
On Mahima Tete
“I’ve had my eye on Mahima for a while. Back when I was with the team in 2017, she was making waves in the junior circuit. I saw her again at the recent Nationals, and she truly stood out. She’s very much a replica of Salima Tete — in style, speed, and energy.
This was the right moment to bring her in. I was personally present at the Nationals in Panchkula and was really impressed with her performance.
What’s great about Mahima is her versatility. She can play defence, midfield, left, right — she’s dynamic and doesn’t limit herself to a fixed role. To me, she’s a utility player. If someone is unavailable, she can step in and adapt seamlessly.”
