The Indian women’s hockey team under a new head coach is going through a period of transformation. After failing to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics, Harendra Singh took over the team. At the Revsportz Trailblazers Conclave, Singh stated that he was excited to take over the team, especially after their Olympic qualification heartbreak, because it meant he could build the team from scratch.
Yesterday, India concluded a three-match series against Australia, while the team lost 1-2 against the giants of hockey. There were multiple positive takeaways from the tour. In an exclusive conversation with RevSportz, Coach Harendra Singh broke down the nuances of the series and shone a light on how the roadmap for the 2026 Hockey World Cup is shaping up.
Q: What are your key takeaways from the tour? Because you only have one win, but there are still some positives to look forward to.
I think the biggest thing is giving these girls the opportunity to compete, especially against a team like Australia. For at least seven of them, this was their first time playing outside Indian soil, so that’s a big challenge. We’ve learned a lot. One of the key takeaways is that we’ve started to settle in the midfield and striking positions. Now we need to work more on the defensive structure, how we can defend one- or two-goal margins. As the matches progressed, I think the team really improved. Another important takeaway is around game management and game knowledge. If we can improve on those two aspects, it will help us transform close games into good performances.
Q: How are you assessing the performances across the three matches? From game one to game three, there were clear improvements.
That’s why we won the last game. We kept improving throughout. One area we really improved in was the attacking part, as well as the transfer of the ball in midfield. Now, one thing we need to work on is ‘outletting’, especially when opponents put us under pressure. That’s something we’ll focus on as we prepare for the Pro League. The girls really stepped up against a strong side. They didn’t hold back their speed and skill, they were trying to be a threat inside the opposition’s 25. Some of the new girls have also shown great potential for the future. With the kind of performances they’ve shown, I think they’ll surprise a few people in the Pro League, especially in two or three phases.
Exclusive 🚨
The Indian women’s hockey team concluded the 3-match series against Australia with a win following 2 losses.
Head coach @HarendraSingh66, in an exclusive conversation with @gargiraut15, breaks down the series and opens up on the roadmap to the 2026… pic.twitter.com/P9TxqZbbGI
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) May 5, 2025
Q: Are you already thinking about the Hockey World Cup? Or is that something for later, and you’re taking it one season at a time?
After the Pro League in Bhubaneswar, we’ll start preparing for the World Cup.
By the end of this year, we should ideally have our pool of 24 players. Then, we’ll cut down to 20 or 22 players. From that group, I plan to select the best 18 or 20 for the World Cup. It’s a process. Every match and tournament is important in that process, both in terms of individual and team development. It’s about where we are and where we want to go.
Q: Do you see a core group forming for the World Cup?
Yes, I can say we have identified a pool of 40 players. As the Pro League progresses, we’ll refine that to 26. And by the end of the year, I believe we’ll have 22 players who’ll form the core group for the World Cup. From that, we’ll pick the final 18.
Q: Who are the emerging leaders in the dressing room?
That’s a question I never like to answer. But I’ll say this, for me, everyone has taken ownership in their own departments. We don’t look at leadership as an individual trait. We focus on team leadership and shared responsibility. On the pitch, someone has to step up as a teacher and guide the others. Several players have come forward in that sense, like Lalresiami (Zote), Navneet (Kaur), our captain Salima (Tete), and Sushila (Chanu). These are seasoned players who bring ideas to the group. The juniors have learned a lot on this tour, and that’s one of my biggest takeaways. The seniors have given them the space and freedom to make decisions, and we’re here to support them. That bonding and chemistry are really working for us right now.
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