The Indian women’s hockey team will have to overcome a formidable opponent in the form of world No.5 Germany in the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers to be held in Ranchi from January 13 to 19. The team, ranked sixth in the world, is aiming to secure a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where it hopes to improve on its quarter-final finish in the 2020 Tokyo Games.
India’s group and schedule
India is placed in Group A along with Germany, New Zealand, Japan, Chile and the United States. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, where they will face the top two teams from Group B, which consists of Belgium, Great Britain, Spain, Korea, Ireland, Canada, Malaysia and the Czech Republic. The semi-final winners will qualify for the Paris Olympics, while the losers will play for the third place.
India will begin its campaign against Chile on January 13, followed by matches against Japan on January 14, Germany on January 16, New Zealand on January 17 and the United States on January 19. All the matches will be played at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Ranchi, which has a capacity of 10,000 spectators.
India’s recent performance and preparation
The Indian women’s hockey team has been in good form recently, winning the Asian Champions Trophy in Hangzhou in October 2023. The team defeated Korea 3-1 in the final to clinch its third title in the tournament. The team also performed well in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where it reached the quarter-finals for the first time in history, losing to Argentina 2-1 in a close contest.
The team has been training at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Bengaluru since November 2023, under the guidance of chief coach Sjoerd Marijne. The team has been focusing on improving its fitness, speed, skills and tactics, as well as playing practice matches against the men’s team. The team is confident of putting up a strong show in the Olympic qualifiers and achieving its dream of playing in Paris.
India’s key players and strengths
The Indian women’s hockey team has a balanced mix of experienced and young players, who have shown their talent and potential in various tournaments. Some of the key players to watch out for are:
- Rani Rampal: The captain and forward of the team, Rani Rampal is the most capped player in the squad with 272 international appearances. She is also the leading goal-scorer for India with 128 goals. She was the top scorer in the Asian Champions Trophy with seven goals, and also scored the crucial goal against Ireland in the Tokyo Olympics that sealed India’s quarter-final berth. She is a skillful, speedy and clinical finisher, who can create and convert chances with ease.
- Savita Punia: The goalkeeper and vice-captain of the team, Savita Punia is one of the best custodians in the world. She has 212 caps and 114 clean sheets to her name. She was the hero of the Asian Champions Trophy final, where she made several saves to deny Korea. She also played a vital role in the Tokyo Olympics, where she made 48 saves in six matches, including 16 against Australia in the pool stage. She is a calm, composed and agile keeper, who can thwart any attack with her reflexes and positioning.
- Gurjit Kaur: The defender and drag-flicker of the team, Gurjit Kaur is the second-highest goal-scorer for India with 69 goals in 121 matches. She is the main weapon for India in penalty corners, where she can unleash her powerful and accurate flicks. She scored six goals in the Asian Champions Trophy, including a hat-trick against Japan in the semi-final. She also scored four goals in the Tokyo Olympics, including a brace against South Africa in the pool stage. She is a strong, solid and reliable defender, who can also contribute to the attack with her flicks and passes.
The Indian women’s hockey team has several strengths that make it a formidable force in the international arena. Some of them are:
- Team spirit and unity: The team has a strong bond and camaraderie, which helps them to support and motivate each other on and off the field. The team has overcome many challenges and hardships, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, lack of exposure and funding, and social stigma, to reach the level they are at today. The team has a never-say-die attitude and a hunger to win, which reflects in their performance and results.
- Speed and skill: The team has a lot of speed and skill in its ranks, which gives it an edge over its opponents. The team can play a fast and attacking brand of hockey, which can unsettle any defence. The team also has a lot of flair and creativity, which can produce moments of magic and brilliance. The team can score goals from open play, penalty corners and counter-attacks, which makes it a threat from all angles.
- Fitness and endurance: The team has worked hard on its fitness and endurance, which enables it to play at a high intensity for the entire duration of the match. The team can maintain its pace and pressure throughout the game, which can wear down its opponents. The team also has a lot of depth and versatility, which allows it to rotate and adapt to different situations and strategies.
India’s main challenge and rival
The Indian women’s hockey team will face its biggest challenge and rival in the form of Germany, which is ranked fifth in the world and is one of the favourites to qualify for the Paris Olympics. Germany has a rich history and pedigree in women’s hockey, having won two Olympic gold medals, two World Cups, eight European Championships and four Champions Trophies. Germany has also dominated India in their head-to-head encounters, winning 13 out of 15 matches, with one draw and one loss.
Germany is a well-rounded and experienced team, which has a lot of quality and depth in all departments. Some of the key players to watch out for are:
- Charlotte Stapenhorst: The captain and forward of the team, Charlotte Stapenhorst is one of the best players in the world. She has 175 caps and 67 goals to her name. She was the top scorer in the 2018 World Cup with eight goals, and also scored the winning goal in the 2016 Olympic bronze medal match against New Zealand. She is a fast, skillful and intelligent player, who can create and finish chances with ease.
- Nike Lorenz: The defender and drag-flicker of the team, Nike Lorenz is the second-highest goal-scorer for Germany with 42 goals in 135 matches. She is the main weapon for Germany in penalty corners, where she can unleash her powerful and accurate flicks. She scored four goals in the 2018 World Cup, including a hat-trick against South Africa in the pool stage. She is a strong, solid and reliable defender, who can also contribute to the attack with her flicks and passes.
- Julia Sonntag: The goalkeeper of the team, Julia Sonntag is one of the best custodians in the world. She has 87 caps and 40 clean sheets to her name. She was the best goalkeeper in the 2018 World Cup, where she made 32 saves in six matches, including 10 against the Netherlands in the semi-final. She is a calm, composed and agile keeper, who can thwart any attack with her reflexes and positioning.
Germany has several strengths that make it a formidable force in the international arena. Some of them are:
- Experience and consistency: The team has a lot of experience and consistency in its ranks, which helps it to perform well in big tournaments and pressure situations. The team has played in six consecutive Olympic semi-finals, four consecutive World Cup semi-finals, and nine consecutive European Championship finals. The team also has a lot of players who have played more than 100 matches for their country, which gives them an edge over their opponents.
- Structure and discipline: The team has a lot of structure and discipline in its game, which makes it difficult to break down and beat. The team plays a well-organized and compact brand of hockey, which can frustrate and counter any attack. The team also has a lot of tactical awareness and flexibility, which allows it to adapt to different situations and strategies. The team can score goals from open play, penalty corners and counter-attacks, which makes it a threat from all angles.
- Physicality and aggression: The team has a lot of physicality and aggression in its game, which gives it an advantage over its opponents. The team can play a hard and physical brand of hockey, which can intimidate and dominate any defence. The team also has a lot of passion and fighting spirit, which reflects in their performance and results. The team can maintain its intensity and pressure throughout the game, which can wear down its opponents.
The Indian women’s hockey team will have to overcome the challenge and rivalry of Germany, as well as the other teams in the Olympic qualifiers, to achieve its goal of qualifying for the Paris Olympics. The team will have to play with confidence, courage and conviction, and showcase its skills, speed and fitness, to prove its mettle and make history.
