Indian
hockey team display women’s power
India won the final of the women’s
Asia Cup hockey tournament against China in a penalty shootout. This has
secured them a spot in next year’s World Cup emphatically on merit.
The triumph came against formidable hurdles. Indian
women ranked 12th in the world and fourth in Asia — behind World No. 8 China,
Korea and Japan. India defeated defending champion Japan in the semi-finals.
The coach Harendra Singh had
come to the assignment just a month before the Asia Cup. The team’s hard work,
dedication, discipline and focus on the game is all owing to Harendra Singh’s efforts.
The hockey federations must heed this victory
and support
the women’s game. The insistence on appointing foreign
coaches has unnecessarily cost India too much time. Our team won in spite of inadequate competitive exposure.
It is strange that International sportswomen
find it difficult to get jobs. Goalkeeper Savita Punia, the star of the final,
and a veteran of over 100 matches and perhaps Asia’s best, is yet to get a job.
2018 will be crucial for the women and men,
with the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games as well as an Olympic spot to be
secured through the Asian Games.
Anyway, the hard-work put it by our women’s
team paid off. Hats off to the young girls of Indian hockey team. They taught
the biggest lesson to the whole country that our national game hockey is still
alive in their heart and that it is still considered by them as a national
game. Now, let us wish them best of luck for the hockey world cup.
Women players have proved that they can become
world champions if they are given adequate facilities in training as well as
living. The present victory should serve as a boost to next international
fixtures and the Olympics. Kudos!
Congratulations to the team which strived with
enthusiasm and spirit in spite of constraints to grab victory.
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