The fifth place finish at the 2026 Women’s Hockey World Cup, the Indian team’s best ever performance, deserves praise.
However, the players have no time to celebrate and rest on their laurels: the Asian Games are just around the corner. Onwards and upwards is the theme of the team as it heads to Japan after completing its training camp at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) campus.
For striker Navneet Kaur, defender Lalremsiami Khmarzote, goalkeeper Savita Punia and captain Salima Tete, the goal is clear: win their first gold at a continental tournament since 1982.
The players were in high spirits during the media interaction organized by the SAI here. Excerpts:
You only had a break for a week after the World Cup. What did you do during this period?
Navneet: It wasn’t a week’s break; it was a three-day break. We had a rest. You must take care of your recovery as well as your nutrition. We went into town for the day. Mostly it was about taking care of our diet.
Did the players manage to celebrate their fifth place finish at the World Championships?
Navneet: No, I think we should celebrate after we win a medal. Of course, we managed to finish fifth, but we wanted to win a medal. The next tournament, the Asian Games, is even more important. We are focused on this. We will celebrate after this.
How much work did you do on the finishing? Have you done anything new in the last year?
Navneet: Since (head coach) Sjoerd Marine came in, we have been focused on scoring. We forwards train separately. We were preparing for field goals, creating something in the D zone or creating penalty opportunities. We trained for all of this. We have Taeke Taekema with us as a drag-flick coach, but he also helps with striking. We also trained with him.
What’s your next goal?
Navneet: Our next goal is the Asian Games. We have been preparing for it for four years. We’ll do our best there. Our team gained great confidence after the World Cup. With this confidence we will enter the Asian Games.
The European teams did very well at the World Cup and we did well against them. As a player, you feel good when you perform well against good teams. Of course, there are also good teams at the Asian Games. There are also several lower ranked teams. It is very important to have this belief for both the team and the player. With this faith we will go to the Asian Games.
On September 4, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) unveiled mock-ups of hostels for athletes in Bengaluru and Patiala, designed on the lines of housing in Japan. | Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR
In addition to medals, the winner of the Asian Games also receives a ticket to the Olympic Games. Is this additional motivation?
Navneet: The World Cup and the Asian Games are equally important. Such major tournaments are held only once every four years. Thanks to the Asian Games, we can qualify for the Olympic Games. Therefore, this is also important for us.
Savita, you celebrated on the sidelines when fellow goalkeeper Bichu Devi made the final save against England at the World Cup. Tell us about your friendship with Bichu, considering that you are the eldest and Bichu started out as your understudy.
Savita: My general nature is that I like to interact with everyone.
I believe that the more connections you have off the field, the better the connection on the field. We are each other’s competitors in training. When we play for India, I want to motivate Bichu as best as possible. When I am on the field, Bichu gives me so much motivation.
I think we set a good example. This isn’t the first time I’ve experienced this. When I was young, Yogita (Bali) was my eldest and I learned a lot from her. After that we had Rajani (Ethimarpu). Now it’s Bichu and me.
Each coach has his own choice. Which goalkeeper will play today? Will I play the whole match today or will Bichu play? In any case, we push each other in training.
I know that Bichu is a very good goalkeeper. I’ll push her as hard as I can. If I can motivate her, it will be good for Indian hockey.
The last time India won gold at the Asian Games was in 1982. Looking at this team, do you believe that they can reach the end?
Savita: Every player wants to show their best results in all tournaments. We were praised for our performance at the World Championships, but only we know how sad we were that we couldn’t win a medal. It’s not just about putting in the effort for one tournament. This is a four year job.
At the last Asian Games we won silver and bronze. We talk less about winning gold. We want to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. This is our goal. This is our dream.
It’s important to note that other teams are just as focused as we are. You have to watch match after match. In fact, each match is divided into four parts. We want to give it our all for those 15 minutes, and then the next 15 minutes, and so on.
China is your main challenge at the Asian Games. India recorded a draw with China in the World Cup. Does it boost confidence?
Savita: It was a very important draw. Many people wrote to us that we defend ourselves well. No, it was not just protection. We played attacking hockey. We had more circle members than them. We created more chances than them. It was very important for us to either beat China or draw.
In the Asian Cup final last year, China beat us 4-1. So this draw was very important for us because it gave us the belief that if we play good hockey we can get a draw or even a win.
Everyone only talks about China and India. But at the 2018 Asian Games, Japan defeated India in the final.
At the 2022 Asian Games, Korea reached the finals. So I think all four teams are good. I know rankings vary, but every team is a challenge.
Lalremsiami, you are an example for the young women of Mizoram in promoting hockey.
Lalremsiami: Yes, it had an impact, especially after we finished fourth at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The image of Mizoram has changed. I couldn’t believe it. When I returned home after the Olympics, everyone started talking about hockey. Parents and young children came to talk to me. They asked me to play hockey with them. I really liked it. I got a lot of motivation from this.
Salima, you are from Jharkhand, the hub of Indian hockey. How does it feel to captain the Indian team as a player from Jharkhand?
Salima: As Lalremsiami said, we received so much love after the Tokyo Olympics. There were many people in Jharkhand who didn’t know much about hockey. But after the Tokyo Olympics, everyone knows about it. They understand that hockey is a great platform.
Hockey can give you everything. Hockey has definitely given me everything in life.
My family, my village, everything has changed. This is something we could never imagine. It makes me emotional.
Even when I had nothing in my village, I played hockey. Now people in my village know me. They know my parents. This is a big motivation for me.
I’m trying my best to take hockey to a higher level. I do everything I can to get young people to learn from me and get interested in hockey.
Published – September 9, 2026 06:46 EST.