Indian Women Hockey Team breaks 36 year curse to qualify for Rio Olympics

It was breakthrough for Indian women’s hockey as after 36 years the team booked has finally booked a berth in 31st Olympic Games, which travels to South America for the first time. The India women's hockey team had previously qualified for the 1980 Moscow Olympics, where they finished fourth. 

Head coach Neil Hawgood, had taken charge of the team in 2012, when it was in turmoil following the retirement of several senior players after the sex scandal in 2008-09. More than the skills, it is his success with creating a team of strong, positive girls that needs to be appreciated.

One of the biggest problems for women’s hockey is the lack of exposure. Compared to men, the women rarely get to go abroad for training sessions. From Australia to New Zealand to England and the US, the team has travelled all across the globe, playing practice games and participating in tournaments against higher-ranked sides. This support from Hockey India, despite being aware of the team’s limited prospects, has also helped the team develop confidence.

This Indian team has won bronze medal in Asian games under the Aussie coach Neil Hawgood and looked good against South Africa, Canada & Australia. Hawgood stares a challenge that appears bigger than when he first took over. As just before the summer games, they lost to teams ranked both above and below them – New Zealand, Germany, Japan, China, Ireland and Britain. Former captain, Ritu Rani was controversially left out of the squad for disciplinary reasons.

Most of India’s opponents at the Olympics have previous experience of being there. However India under Sushila Chanu, are still upstart. Seeing the current form and exposure of Women’s Team, expecting a medal would be too harsh. But former Olympians (Members of the 1980 women's hockey team) expect surprises from Indian women's hockey team. 

INDIA WOMEN'S HOCKEY TEAM SQUAD for RIO OLYMPICS 2016: 

Goalkeeper: Savita

Defenders: Deep Grace Ekka, Deepika, Namita Toppo, Sunita Lakra, Sushila Chanu (C)

Midfielders: Navjot Kaur, Monika, Renuka Yadav, Lilima Minz, Nikki Pradhan

Forwards: Anuradha Devi Thokchom, Poonam Rani, Vandana Kataria, Ritu Rani Rampal, Preeti Dubey

Stand by: Rajani Etimarpu, H. Lalruat Feli

Coach: Neil Hawgood