New Delhi, Aug 11 (IANS) India women’s hockey captain Salima Tete has set her sights firmly on the gold medal at the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup 2026, insisting that the team has the belief and ability to challenge for top honours after an impressive Nations Cup triumph.
India head into the World Cup with considerable momentum after winning the FIH Nations Cup in Auckland, New Zealand, in June. The team remained unbeaten throughout the tournament before defeating hosts New Zealand 2-0 in the final to lift the title.
Speaking to JioStar ahead of the showpiece event, Tete said the team’s confidence has grown considerably and that the players are determined to convert their recent success into a strong World Cup campaign.
“As a captain, my role is to support every player on the pitch. Whether we are losing or winning, I stand with the team. This time, the FIH Hockey World Cup will be ours. We will play smart, attacking hockey and bring back a medal. I have full belief in my team. We have the ability to do it,” Tete said.
The World Cup, jointly hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands, will be played from August 15 to 30. India have been placed in Pool D alongside China, England and South Africa, with all their pool matches scheduled at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen, Netherlands.
India will begin their campaign against China on August 16, before taking on South Africa on August 18 and England on August 20.
Tete, who will be appearing in her second World Cup, believes the team’s Nations Cup success has provided valuable confidence ahead of the bigger challenge.
“I am very excited, especially since this is my second World Cup. Every player dreams of playing in a World Cup and winning a medal. Our last tournament in New Zealand, the FIH Nations Cup, was a great success. We won it and brought home the medal. So this time, in the World Cup, our goal is the same,” she said.
“Every match counts, and we will treat each one with equal importance. We are determined to play our best hockey and bring back the gold medal.”
India’s preparation for the World Cup included a training block in Bengaluru followed by a stint in Germany, where the team played two practice matches against the hosts before travelling to the Netherlands.
While the experienced players will be expected to shoulder responsibility, Tete believes the energy of the younger members of the squad can prove equally important.
“When the junior players come into the team, they bring a lot of energy. They always tell us, ‘Didi, we have to push hard, we have to play good hockey, and we need that medal.’ Hearing that from them gives us all a lot of positivity,” she said.
Tete singled out young players such as Sakshi Rana, Ishika and Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, saying they should be allowed to express themselves without carrying the burden of expectations.
“From my side, I always tell them to play freely and enjoy the game. It’s not their job to carry the pressure. The seniors are there to handle that. I want them to focus on their game and express themselves on the pitch,” she said.
India’s captain also acknowledged that playing at a World Cup naturally brings nerves, but believes the key is to channel those emotions positively.
“Playing in the World Cup is every player’s dream. It’s a huge opportunity for us. Just like the FIH Nations Cup and the FIH Pro League, top teams will be competing. Our pool in the World Cup is challenging, and we are preparing for tough matches,” she said.
“Our goal is to go into every match with a clear plan and a winning mindset. I feel nervous too, and that’s normal. Every player goes through it. But whenever I step onto the pitch, I tell myself that I must play for my team, support every player, and take responsibility.”
Tete added that her priority as captain is to keep the group positive, particularly when mistakes are made during high-pressure matches.
“If someone makes a mistake, it’s fine. We learn and improve. I want to bring positivity and energy to the group. We are doing well, but we can do even better. My focus is to stay excited and give my full support to the team,” she said.
The skipper also praised India’s goalkeepers for providing the confidence needed for the outfield players to attack without fear.
“We have some excellent goalkeepers who constantly lift our spirits. When they say, ‘You push forward, we will defend the back,’ it really fires us up. They give us the confidence to attack freely, knowing they will take care of the defence,” Tete said.
“When you know your goalkeeper has your back, you play without fear. And if we play with fear, we can’t perform at our best. We are ready to fight for every ball and give our all in every match.” She added.
–IANS
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