India’s women’s hockey team is carrying a “quiet confidence” into its build-up for the Women’s Hockey World Cup, with captain Salima Tete and rising forward Sunelita Toppo emerging as two clear symbols of a squad that believes it has found the right balance of youth, experience and structure.
The belief has been strengthened by India’s recent FIH Nations Cup title in New Zealand, a win that also earned promotion back to the FIH Pro League. But the mood around the group, as described by the players, is not about celebrating what has already happened. It is about using that momentum to sharpen the team’s game ahead of bigger tests to come.
Leadership, shared responsibility and a sharper focus
Tete, who took over the captaincy in 2023, described her leadership as a process of growth rather than authority. She acknowledged that stepping into the role was intimidating, particularly as a younger player leading a group that included 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 evolution, she explained, has helped build a dressing-room environment where players are encouraged to contribute. In her view, leadership is spread across the group rather than concentrated in one person. “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,” she said.
The culture she outlined was reflected in India’s Nations Cup run, which the report described as featuring composure, resilience and tactical discipline. Yet Tete stressed that the team has already moved on from the celebrations. “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,” she said.
In practical terms, India’s preparations are centred on tightening the basics while building on physical improvements that have become more noticeable in recent years. Tete credited the support staff for lifting fitness standards, pointing to gains in agility, strength and recovery that have helped the team keep pace with 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,” Salima said.
Toppo’s Nations Cup moment and the value of preparation
Toppo’s rise has been highlighted as another marker of India’s growing belief, with the young striker scoring in the Nations Cup final against New Zealand. She said the goal was the product of specific preparation and repetition in training.
“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,” Sunelita said.
Her personal journey, as described in the report, began with limited resources in Odisha, where she started playing with a bamboo stick because her family could not afford proper equipment. She also recalled that the first hockey stick she received from a coach was broken.
Those beginnings, she said, have made her appreciate how much hockey infrastructure has changed in her 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 said.
Toppo also underlined the role of senior players in helping younger athletes settle into the national setup, describing how guidance goes beyond formal coaching. “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,” she said.
Why India’s belief matters with bigger tests looming
Both Tete and Toppo pointed to improvements in structure and fitness as key steps forward since the Tokyo Olympics, with the report noting a growing tactical maturity under the current coaching group. With the Hockey World Cup and the Asian Games ahead, India expects tougher challenges against the world’s elite.
Still, the tone inside the camp suggests something deeper than recent results: a team that is no longer defined by past performances and is increasingly convinced it can compete among the best. The coming months will show whether that belief can translate into medals, but India enters this phase with momentum and a renewed sense of purpose.