NEW DELHI: There is a quiet confidence surrounding the Indian women’s hockey team these days. It isn’t just because they lifted the FIH Nations Cup in New Zealand, earning promotion back to the FIH Pro League, but because the squad believes it has finally found the balance between youth, experience, and structure.Captain Salima Tete and rising forward Sunelita Toppo are two faces of that transformation. For Salima, who took over the captaincy in 2023, leadership has been a journey of growth rather than authority. She admits the role was intimidating at first, especially as one of the younger players entrusted with leading a team full of experienced internationals.“It was difficult in the beginning because I didn’t know how to handle everything. I learned by sitting with seniors like Savita, Nikki, and others, asking questions, and understanding how to lead. Earlier, I hardly spoke. Now I know communication is one of the biggest responsibilities of a captain,” Salima said.That openness has helped create a dressing room where every player is encouraged to contribute. According to the midfielder, leadership is shared rather than imposed.“It’s not that the captain does everything. Every player takes responsibility. The juniors also speak up now, and that’s very important for us.”That culture was evident during India’s Nations Cup triumph, where the team displayed composure, resilience, and tactical discipline. But Salima insists the celebrations have already been put aside.“The win is a beautiful memory, but now our focus is entirely on the World Cup. We have analyzed our performances, watched the videos, and identified where we can improve. We are only getting started.”India’s preparations are centered on sharpening the basics while building on the physical improvements that have become increasingly visible over the last few years. Salima credited the support staff for raising the team’s fitness standards, saying improvements in agility, strength, and recovery have helped the players match the speed of international hockey.“If we focus on our strengths, play with confidence, and remain consistent, we can achieve good results. Every player has a different quality, speed, skills, or passing and if everyone performs their role well, we can compete with the best, said Salima.”Among those benefiting from the environment created by the senior players is Sunelita Toppo, whose journey reflects the rapid rise of Indian women’s hockey. The young striker, who scored in the Nations Cup final against New Zealand, said the moment was a reward for countless hours spent practicing specific match situations.“We had prepared for that situation before the match. When the ball came to me, I stayed composed and executed what we had practiced. I’m happy I could contribute to the team’s victory,” she said.Sunelita’s rise has been anything but straightforward. Growing up in Odisha, she began playing hockey with a bamboo stick because her family couldn’t afford proper equipment. Even the first hockey stick she received from a coach was broken.Those humble beginnings, however, make her appreciate how dramatically hockey infrastructure has evolved in the state.“When I started, we played on mud grounds. Now young players begin on turf itself. There are turf grounds even near my village, so I can continue practicing whenever I go home. That has made a huge difference.”She also highlighted the role of senior players in helping youngsters settle into the national setup.“The coaches teach us the system, but the seniors explain situations from their own experience. They never make us feel like juniors. They guide us constantly, and that has helped me improve a lot, said Sunelita.”Both players believe India’s biggest leap since the Tokyo Olympics has been its understanding of structure and fitness. While the hunger to win always existed, Sunelita feels the team’s tactical maturity has grown significantly under the current coaching group.With the Hockey World Cup and the Asian Games looming, India knows tougher challenges await against the world’s elite. But if the Nations Cup was a statement of intent, the conversations inside the Indian camp reveal something equally important, a team that has stopped measuring itself by past performances and has begun believing it belongs among the very best.The next few months will determine whether that belief can translate into medals. For now, India heads into the biggest phase of the cycle carrying not just momentum, but a renewed sense of purpose.
