Bengaluru, September 8 (Daily Kiran) : The Indian women’s hockey team has officially departed from Bengaluru for the 20th Asian Games, set to take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Under the leadership of captain Salima Tete and coach Sjoerd Marijne, the team began its journey on Tuesday.
The competition at the Asian Games holds significant importance. The top-performing team in the women’s hockey event will secure a spot for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, provided they haven’t already qualified through other means. The primary objective for the Indian squad is to clinch the gold medal and achieve direct qualification for the upcoming Olympics.
This edition of the Asian Games marks a new chapter for the Indian women under Marijne, who was appointed as head coach in January 2026. The team had a strong start to their campaign, winning a silver medal at the FIH Women’s World Cup Qualifiers in Hyderabad, where they secured their World Cup qualification with a 1-0 victory over Italy in the semifinals.
Following that, the team continued its success at the FIH Women’s Nations Cup in Auckland, remaining undefeated throughout the tournament. India triumphed over the USA, Japan, and Uruguay in the pool stage, defeated Chile 6-0 in the semifinals, and won the final against host New Zealand with a score of 2-0. This victory also earned India promotion to the FIH Women’s Pro League for the next season.
The momentum carried over into the World Cup, where the team achieved its best performance in decades, finishing fifth. This was the women’s team’s best result since the inaugural edition in 1974. During the World Cup, India drew with China, England, and Australia, while securing wins against South Africa (6-1) and Germany (3-1).
In the Asian Games, the Indian women’s team is placed in Pool B alongside Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, and Uzbekistan. They will kick off their campaign against Uzbekistan on September 20, followed by matches against Indonesia on September 21, Thailand on September 23, Japan on September 25, and Singapore on September 27. The knockout phase will commence on September 30, with the semifinals scheduled for the same day and the final on October 2.
Captain Salima Tete expressed confidence, stating, “We are heading into the Asian Games with a lot of confidence. We know that every tournament brings new challenges. The Nations Cup and World Cup have shown us what we can achieve together, and now our focus is on taking it one step further. Our goal is clear — we want to fight for the gold medal and secure direct qualification for the Los Angeles Olympics.”
The 20-member Indian women’s hockey team for the Asian Games includes:
Goalkeepers: Savita, Bichu Devi Kharibam
Defenders: Ishika Chaudhary, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Lalthanthluangi, Jyoti, Shilpi Dabas
Midfielders: Nikki Pradhan, Sakshi Rana, Sunita Toppo, Salima Tete (Captain), Neha, Deepika Soreng
Forwards: Lalremsiyami, Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, Navneet Kaur, Deepika, Ishika, Baljeet Kaur, Beauty Dungdung
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