Indian Women's Hockey Team Gears Up for New Challenges

The Indian women's hockey team is poised to embark on a fresh campaign with aspirations for the World Cup and Olympics, as stated by chief coach Harendra Singh. Despite recent hurdles, the team uses the Asian Champions Trophy as a foundation for future success.

The Indian women's hockey team is ready to embark on a new chapter, setting its sights on the World Cup and the Olympics. Chief coach Harendra Singh emphasized that the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy will be crucial in laying the groundwork for this journey.

After a challenging phase following their historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Games, the team could not secure a spot in the Paris Olympics, with a disappointing performance in the FIH Pro League.

With renewed focus, Singh stated the team aims for a comeback by targeting the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics. Fitness improvements, highlighted by a training stint at the Indian Naval Academy, are a critical focus. As the team faces Malaysia in the ACT opener, captain Salima Tete pointed out China as a significant rival for their title defense.

(With inputs from agencies.)