Finding the goals, fixing the leaks: How India is righting its Pro League wrongs ahead of crucial Women’s Asia Cup campaign

A muggy Bengaluru afternoon had given way to a cool evening, a light drizzle speckling the azure blue turf at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre. The Indian women’s hockey players were split into two different-coloured vests, simulating match scenarios in an intra-squad game devised by analytical coach Dave Smolenaars and head coach Harendra Singh.

“If I speak about today’s session, we were working on transitions. When we retrieve the ball, we are practising how to go forward. And when we go forward, we need to know how to keep the ball,” a weary Udita explained to Sportstar after the demanding training run.

The women’s national team is in transition. Four years ago, it was celebrating a historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics. Today, it is reeling from relegation in the 2024-25 FIH Pro League and the failure to qualify for Paris 2024. The mood has dipped, and before turning attention to the Asia Cup in China — with a World Cup berth at stake — the side has had to confront its shortcomings.

Coming to terms

At 19, Salima Tete played in the Tokyo bronze-medal playoff against Great Britain. Now 23 and captain, she is expected to steady the group after a disastrous campaign. Yet Salima insists the leadership load is shared.

“There are a lot of seniors in the dressing room, like Savita [Punia] di. It’s not like I’m the captain and only I’ll have to speak when it’s needed. We keep discussing and exchanging notes on where we can improve in a match, especially at half-time. If I make a mistake, they come and give me feedback.”

Savita Punia, once a wide-eyed debutant 16 years ago, is now the team’s anchor in turbulent times.

“When everything’s rosy, everyone will feel good. When Tokyo happened, we didn’t have to motivate anyone because we were getting a lot of love from outside. Then, we didn’t qualify for the Olympics. There was a very short turnaround time and then the Pro League. I was the captain then, and as a senior, you have to keep your emotions aside and support the team in any way possible. Even Sushila [Chanu] called me and said, ‘Savi, you have to motivate the group and speak to them’.”

To ease the mental burden, Hockey India enlisted Bengaluru-based Behavioural Foresight, a performance science group that has worked with Indian Premier League side Rajasthan Royals and shuttler H.S. Prannoy. “Two to three times a week, they are taking classes as a group and individually also. This is important because when you are young, you tend to focus and think about a lot of things. They are helping them master the art of focusing on one or two things at a time. And the results are evident, I can see it on the pitch,” Harendra said.

Even without Savita, sidelined with a foot injury, there is optimism. “Before the Tokyo Olympics, we weren’t in the Pro League either. We had unity, and that’s why we did well,” Savita reflected.

Fixing the leak with experience

India’s defence has been porous. Across 16 Pro League matches, it conceded more than 100 penalty corners, including 17 in a single game against Belgium. Of the 43 goals allowed, 23 came from penalty corners. Much of the blame has fallen on an inexperienced backline.

“We are working on the regaining part of the game. Experience is needed, especially while slowing down counter-attacks from European sides, which can be very quick. We are working on that now with the youngsters,” said Udita, who managed only four League matches due to fitness issues.

Jyoti, a forward-turned-defender, was thrust into greater responsibility in the absence of seniors like Sushila, Udita, and Nikki Pradhan. “Many of us were new. Experienced players know what needs to be done in every situation, but one mistake from an inexperienced defender can result in a goal,” the 25-year-old admitted.

Harendra explained that young defenders, eager to win the ball, often dived in and gave away soft penalty corners. “In hockey and even in football, the central defender acts like the pivot. If they know their job, 50 per cent of your defence is sorted. My three centre defenders were out for the majority of the Pro League. The adjustments included pulling midfielders like Manisha and Vaishnavi [Phalke] back into defence, and giving more responsibility to Jyoti. One player cannot last the whole season as the main centre defender.”

The solution, he said, lies in structure: “The diamond formation helps protect the centre. There should be at least four players present to prevent counterattacks. That’s something we are working on.”

With Udita and Nikki back in the squad, Harendra expects a steadier defence and, with it, calmer teammates.

Hitting the mark

If defence is a concern, attack is equally so. Drag-flicker Deepika finished as India’s top scorer with seven goals, six from penalty corners. That reliance could place unnecessary pressure on the forward.

“When we go to take a PC, of course, there’ll be pressure. But inside that circle, if my teammates tell me, ‘Do whatever you can, we are here to back you,’ then I only need to focus on the goal,” she smiled.

Before the European leg of the League, Deepika and Manisha Chauhan trained under drag-flick coach Toon Siepman. “Changing my body position during pick-up, correcting my footing, and tweaking the follow-through to increase the speed of the ball – these were the areas of focus,” Deepika recalled.

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India, however, struggled in front of goal: 22 strikes all season, the second-lowest tally (ahead of England’s 20). Ten were field goals, 11 from penalty corners, and just one from penalty stroke. It also ranked last in circle penetrations (210).

“Where we fail is in the number of shots on goal. Look at penalty corners, we won them as many as the Netherlands and Belgium, but our conversion rate was low (13.75). In modern hockey, you try to hit that sweet spot of 24-28 per cent in a match,” Harendra observed.

Back where it began

For Harendra, the Asia Cup is personal. It was his first assignment when he took over the women’s team in 2017 — and he won the title.

“When I took charge of India on October 8, 2017, that was the first time that I took the job of a women’s team. I had to fly to Japan on the 24th, so the preparation time was less, but many of the players were mature in that group,” he remembered.

Between stints with India, Harendra led the U.S. men’s team in 2021. “There, I got to learn a lot about the other aspects of hockey, the ones not related to the game on the turf. Mental toughness, decision-making, psychology, and well-being – they emphasise a lot on these things. Now that I’m back here, I try to do the same.”

The 2017 team had established stars like Rani Rampal and Vandana Katariya. The current side is younger, but Harendra believes in its long-term trajectory. It is, in his words, “Mission 2028” — with the World Cup and Asian Games as stepping stones towards a Los Angeles Olympic medal.

“We know that if we win the Asia Cup, we will go to the World Cup. So there’s no compromise on that. There’s no ifs and buts. We have to win. Of course, there’s another chance to qualify after this, but why wait?” Harendra, who still swears by his philosophy of “Indian masala hockey,” concluded.

(Please note: The interviews were taken before Deepika was ruled out of the Asia Cup with injury.)

Published on Sep 03, 2025

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