Hockey (women): India
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Junior Women’s World Cup
INDIAN GIRLS HOLD NERVE, GAIN BRONZE
2013: First-Ever World Cup Medal For India In Women’s Hockey
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
New Delhi: It was celebration time for country’s hockey lovers as India held their nerves to beat a fancied England 3-2 on penalties to claim the bronze medal in the Junior Women’s World Cup in Monchengladbach, Germany on Sunday.
Defending champions the Netherlands, who India lost to in the semifinals, lifted the trophy by beating Argentina 4-2 on penalties.
The Indian girls showed maturity beyond their age in the thrilling match to clinch the bronze, thus becoming the first women’s hockey team from India to win a medal in a World Cup. India’s gamble to field goalkeeper Bigan Soy for the first time in the tournament during the penalties paid off as she came up with several saves to help the team finish on the podium.
India’s coach Neil Hawgood said after the match. “Our goalkeeper Bigan Soy, who had not played even a minute in the whole tournament, did a great job. It was (always) clear, (that) when it comes down to shootouts, she will be in the goal,” he was quoted as saying.
Rani, who was later named “Player of the Tournament”, opened the account for India in the 13th minute of the match before England equalized in the 55th through Anna Toman as both team teams finished the regulation time tied 1-1. The penalty shootout saw more misses than hits as both the sides failed to score from four strokes each. India scored from their first attempt while England converted their last one. Rani scored from India’s first stroke after Toman missed England’s first. No goals were scored from the next six as England went to their final shot trailing 0-1 in the shootout. After Emily Defroand found the target to level the score, India needed to score their final hit to win.
But Poonam Rani failed to score. In the sudden death, Rani and Defroand scored for their teams respectively before Poonam Rani missed to give England a chance to wrap up the match. But Shona McCallin failed to take advantage. Navneet Kaur, who had earlier missed a penalty, rose to the occasion by scoring in her attempt while Toman could not convert to hand the Indian girls a welldeserved win.
This was the best finish by the team in the event, having finished outside topeight in their earlier three attempts.
HI announces cash reward
Hockey India (HI) on Sunday announced that each member of team will be rewarded with a cash prize of Rs one lakh, according to agencies. Chief coach Hawgood will also receive a cash reward of Rs one lakh.
YEAR-WISE STATISTICS/ TRENDS
2015: earn Olympic berth after 36 years
The Times of India, Aug 30 2015
Women make Olympic cut after 36 years Having finished fifth at the World Hockey League semi-finals in Antwerp (Belgium) in early July 2015 , only a few mega upsets could have prevented India's women's hockey team from making the cut for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Therefore, it was not surprising when the International Hockey Federation (FIH) announced in late August 2015 that Rani Rampal & Co. had booked their ticket for the mega competition after a gap of 36 years, once England made it to the final of the ongoing EuroHockey Championships in London after beating Spain. One berth was freed up because England, and the other finalist Netherlands -who beat Germany in the other last-four clash -have already qualified for the Games.
2016
Asian Champions
The Times of India, Nov 5, 2016
The Indian women's hockey team ended the disappointment of finishing 12th at the Olympic Games, by lifting their maiden Asian Champions Trophy by beating China 2-1 in November. It took social media seconds to go berserk and the women's team was lauded for its feat from all corners. Their victory came less than a week after Indian men beat Pakistan for the Asian Champions Trophy title. Befittingly, Hockey India announced a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh for each player and chief coach Neil Hawgood.
Hockey: India beat China 2-1 to win Women's Asian Champions Trophy
HIGHLIGHTS
Deepika scored the winner in the dying minutes to give India 2-1 victory.
Deep Grace Ekka put India in the lead via a penalty corner in the 13th minute.
Zhong Mengling scored a fine field goal in the 44th minute to make it 1-1.
The Indian women's hockey team lifted its maiden Asian Champions Trophy after Deepika Thakur struck in the final minute to give her team a thrilling 2-1 win over China in the final.
Earlier, Deep Grace Ekka converted a penalty corner to take India into the lead in the 13th minute before China equalised in the 44th minute through a field goal from Zhong Mengling.
The welcome result for the Indian women's team comes days after men beat Pakistan to reclaim the Asian Champions Trophy in Kuantan, Malaysia. India's best finish in the Women's Asian Champions Trophy came in the last edition in 2013 when it finished runner-up to Japan. It had finished third in the inaugural edition in 2010.
Having learnt from their group stage encounter, India refused to let China take early control of the ball, closing them down high up the pitch, often intercepting their passes and constantly putting pressure by hunting in packs. When in possession, the Indian eves held their nerve and passed the ball around neatly to penetrate China's circle. This slightly different approach to their game compared to Friday helped them earn India's first PC of the game in the 13th minute.
An innovative set-piece saw Deep perfectly send the ball past the Chinese keeper for the early lead. Going into the second quarter, India kept up the pressure by playing disciplined hockey, keeping their calm only to deny the Chinese a chance to equalise. However, the third quarter saw China's Mengling Zhong penetrate the Indian circle to score a quick field goal. But the Indian eves were unrelenting and were playing the kind of hockey that had China on the backfoot.
Though fortunes changed hands by the minute, neither team dropped the intensity going into the fourth quarter. For India, it was Rani who was acting like a lynchpin, attempting to penetrate the Chinese D to earn a PC and she found a chance with just minutes left before the final hooter went off. It was a do-or-die situation for India and it was their best chance to score. Deepika, the highest goal scorer of the tournament took the onus on to herself to convert a sensational goal with just 30 seconds to go for the final hooter, sending the Indian supports into bursts of cheers.
For the team's triumph, Hockey India on Saturday also announced a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh each for the players and chief coach Neil Hawgood. Besides this, the federation also announced Rs 1 lakh for the other support staff of the team. A cash award for Rs 1 lakh was announced for Deepika, the highest scorer of the tournament.
Under-18 Asia Cup: bronze
Indian girls clinch bronze Dec 23 2016 : The Times of India
Sangita Kumari scored twice as India blanked Korea 3-0 to clinch a bronze medal in the 4th Women's Under-18 Asia Cup hockey tournament in Dec 2016 .
Win Asia Cup
From: The Times of India, November 6, 2017
See graphic:
Indian women win Asia Cup, 2017, some highlights
2019
2019: In a first, psychologist to tour with team
Manuja Veerappa, January 30, 2019: The Times of India
On an average, every member of India’s women’s hockey team, including the reserves, spends 300 days away from home. These players battle home sickness, loneliness and mental fatigue. This in turn affects performances.
With the senior team eyeing Olympic qualification this year, the team management has, for the first time, roped in a psychologist who will travel with the team on tours. The management felt it was essential for a full-time psychologist to travel with the team.
Prior to the Rani Rampal-led team’s departure for the ongoing tour of Spain, Priyanka, a psychologist attached to the Sports Authority of India, was sanctioned to travel with the team.
Speaking about the importance of a psychologist with the team, Sjoerd Marjine, the chief coach, explained, “She has been working with the team for a while now but that’s during the camps. We realized that was a shortcoming because the psychologist doesn’t really see the players in match situation. So, we felt it was very important for her to see the players in match situations to study how they react to situations on and off the field. Also, it is important for her to analyze how the group dynamics is when we play consecutive matches and how the players react to victory and defeat.”
The Dutchman also felt that the inclusion of a sports psychologist will enhance his communication with the players and within the team.
“We also want to improve communication within the team and that of the players with me. We want to see the girls play to their potential in big matches and for that we need to address the mental aspect as well. There are times the girls have something on their minds, but given the culture they come from they don’t easily open up to a coach. But with Priyanka in the mix now, I believe we can bridge the gap faster now,” explained Marjine.
Skipper Rani also feels that working with Priyanka and having her on tour is a huge boost for the team. “She focuses on our strengths, makes us do different kinds of fun team activities which helps in bonding.”
