By Amidst the euphoria and incessant media blitz associated with the cricket World Cup and the Indian cricket team’s spectacular success in it, it is easy to lose the landmark achievement of the Indian women’s hockey team in the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy.
But we should not indulge in such easy forgetfulness. On 5th November, India’s women’s hockey team trounced the defending champion Japan 4-0 to lift the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy title for the second time. This is the competition’s seventh edition, and the final was held in Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Mundra Astroturf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand.
Attacking Win
The Indian women’s hockey team displayed aggressive and fascinating stick work in the final to score four goals. The goals were scored by Sangita Kumari(17th minute), Neha Goyal (46th minute), Lalremsiami (57th minute) and Vandana Katariya (60th minute). The hosts were playing attacking hockey since the beginning of the game and dominated the proceedings.
Savita Punia, the captain of the Indian women’s hockey team, said that the team played very aggressively after half time. She also acknowledged that they were a bit nervous as Japan had a very good team.
Earlier, India won their first Women’s Asian Champions Trophy in 2016, in Singapore by defeating China in the finals. Japan has the distinction of winning Women’s Asian Champions Trophy twice; in 2013 and 2021.South Korea lifted the trophy three times, that is in 2010, 2011 and 2018.
In the recently concluded edition of the competition, India stormed into the finals by registering a convincing win over South Korea with a 2-0 margin in the semi-final. The goals were scored by Salima Tete and Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke. In the other semi-final of the competition, Japan defeated China to reach the finals of the tournament. Here it deserves a mention that India’s women hockey team completely overshadowed their South Korean counterparts with a 5-0 win in their final group match.
Winning Streak
In fact, it is heartening to note that the Indian women’s hockey team had seven consecutive victories in seven matches throughout their journey in the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2023, which amply showcases the grit, commitment and talent of these players.
Salima Tete from India was adjudged as the player of the tournament and the 21-year-old Sangita Kumari with six goals to her name in the tournament became the top goal scorer in Indian women’s hockey team, in the just concluded competition.
Struggles Behind Glory
Many of the players of this remarkable team of champions had a story of struggles behind their moments of glory. Coming from a rural background, Vandana Katariya, who has to her credit of scoring a hat-trick in Tokyo Olympics, faced discouragement while playing hockey and was taunted by villagers. They even told her father to not let her pursue sports as being a girl she had to eventually make rotis only. However, her father stood by her despite opposition from villagers.
Neha Goyal’s alcoholic father was prone to violence, and she sought her solace in hockey. Sangita Kumari faced financial hardships during her early years as a hockey player and there were days when she didn’t have shoes, hockey sticks or training clothes. Sangita recollected how her father once made a hockey stick for her.
Salima Tete started playing hockey with bamboo sticks. She built her hockey career along with financial struggle. Even when she was selected to play in the Tokyo Olympics there was no television in the mud house where she lived with her family. A television set was installed in her house by the District Administration after the alarming news came in the social media.
Commendable Gesture
It was commendable of Hockey India to announce a reward of Rs.3 lakh for each of the members of the winning team comprising exceptional players who won Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2023, and Rs.1.5 lakh for each member of the support staff of the team. Many more such awards and recognitions are needed to encourage more talented women hockey players to emerge for India in the future.
This recent triumph of the Indian women’s hockey team should give enough reason for our cricket crazy nation to enjoy and support other sports in huge numbers. Without public support, corporate support to the players is not likely to materialise in a big way.
