S Kannan in New Delhi
Call it redemption or doing it for national pride, but the Indian women’s hockey team play their hearts out on the synthetic turf. After the disappointment of winning just a bronze medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou in October, Savita Punia and her team returned home for a fresh assignment. And the way they played in the Asian Champions Trophy was reminiscent of the past, as they whacked Japan 4-0 to seal the title in Ranchi late on Sunday night.
On the return journey from China, the Indian girls preferred solitude. They were on the same flight as the men who had won gold, and quite unhappy with their own bronze medals. “There was unfinished business,” Punia, the captain, had said at the time. That they would try to peak in Ranchi was clear from the start. However, to sustain that fast and aggressive brand of hockey is a clear sign that they are ready to push on and leave behind recent disappointments.
Punia and Vandana Katariya, the senior-most players, had spoken of how returning to India meant they had to start training again in the camp. Ranchi, a passionate hockey city emerging as the new destination, has been a sheer delight for the fans. After all, the tribal belt has produced an assembly line of players over the years, both for the men’s and women’s sides.
It was a Super Sunday for Indian sport. If Rohit Sharma and his team crushed South Africa with a thoroughly professional performance in Kolkata in the ICC World Cup, Ranchi witnessed fans lining up from 2pm for a women’s hockey match to be played at night. Officially, the capacity of the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Stadium is 8,000. What one witnessed was almost 13,000 fans packing the stadium like a can of sardines. They cheered lustily for India, which is so important for women’s hockey.
The way they came out firing against Japan was reminiscent of their performance in the league phase last week. The big test on Sunday saw the Indian girls play like true champions and attack relentlessly, with Sangita Kumari, Neha Goyal, Lalremsiami and Katariya, now a veteran of over 300 games, pumping in a goal each.
There was drama before the match began as the floodlights failed. A delay of over 45 minutes made both the fans and players restless. But then, these passionate fans had come to cheer on the girls loudly, irrespective of the medal they won in Hangzhou being ‘only’ a bronze. Shackling Japan and thwarting an early move where Shiho Kobayakawa had a goal disallowed made for a tense start. These days, there are giant screens even inside hockey stadiums to show replays.
Even as fans blocked the screen due to an absence of seats, it was clear why the effort from Kobayakawa was disputed by the Indians. The replays showed it was not a goal. As much as the Indian attack, which ultimately scored four with fluency, the defence too functioned efficiently. With Punia solid in goal and the backline functioning to perfection, India thwarted Japan to pull off the creditable feat of beating them twice within a week.
Prior to this, India had defeated South Korea in the semi-finals. In terms of physical fitness and speed, the Indian women’s team works very hard. Each player looked so fit that they could take on seemingly superior Asian players. No doubt, the fan support also elevated their level of play.
To win seven matches in a row in the Asian Champions Trophy was proof that the women’s team was not dwelling on the failure to win gold in the Asian Games. That would have earned them direct qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The city of Ranchi will now ready itself to host another event in January – the Olympic qualifiers for Paris.
Hockey India was prompt in announcing cash awards for the players. “The big goal is we do well in the Olympic qualifiers,” said Punia after the game. To peak again in two months is the challenge. The team has a tough coach in Janneke Schopman, and the support staff comprising physios, trainers and other experts will try and ensure that the girls do not get burnt out.
Dilip Tirkey, Hockey India President and himself a former captain, felt that this win would boost the Indian women’s team. “Congratulations to the Indian team for an outstanding performance,” he said. “Your unwavering dedication and strenuous efforts have brought immense pride to the nation, underscoring your resolute commitment to the sport of hockey.”