Starting from scratch: Pro League provides perfect springboard into future for transitioning Indian women’s team

Indervir Grewal

Chandigarh, February 2

Their Paris Games dream shattered, India now have the tricky task of rebuilding as they start another cycle in the midst of a transitional phase for the team. Coach Janneke Schopman and her players have no time to sulk as they begin to pick up the pieces in the aftermath of their disappointing campaign at the Olympics qualifying tournament in Ranchi.

Just two weeks after their morale-shattering loss to Japan that denied them a place in the Olympics after two successive appearances, the Savita Punia-led women’s side take the field again as the Pro League caravan arrives in India. The only time India played in the Pro League, they finished third. The stakes are much higher this time — starting this season, World Cup and Olympics qualification will be on offer for the winning teams in the men’s and women’s leagues. For India, though, the primary goal should be to gain top-level exposure — especially for the younger lot — rather than winning the 2026 World Cup berth, which is realistically out of their reach.

After getting a taste of the sport’s top international league in the 2021-22 edition due to Australia and New Zealand pulling out, India had to sit out the previous season. It led to the team missing out on playing against top teams.

“I have said this before… unfortunately, in the last year we haven’t played very many matches that mattered to be completely honest,” Schopman said on the eve of their game against China in Bhubaneswar. “We were not in the Pro League. From January to September we probably played four official matches. In the Pro League, you play 16,” she added.

Lack of game-time played a big factor in the team failing to qualify for the Olympics, first at the Asian Games and then the Ranchi qualifiers. Over the last two years, the team has lost many of its key senior players from the Tokyo Olympics campaign. Former captain and star striker Rani Rampal sat out most of 2022 due to injury and fitness issues and last played for India in a Test series in South Africa in January 2023. Defender Deep Grace Ekka last played for India in the Asian Champions Trophy in November. After being left out of the team for the qualifiers, she announced her retirement. Midfielder Navjot Kaur’s last match for India came at the tour of Australia in May 2023. Defensive midfielder Sushila Chanu did not play for India after the Asian Games.

After missing both the Asian Games and Olympics qualifier, defender Gurjit Kaur has been recalled for the Pro League, largely because of a dire shortage of drag-flickers. “We need potentially more depth in our penalty corner. That is a concern in women’s hockey in India,” Schopman said.

Forward Deepika was the lone drag-flicker at the Ranchi tournament. The 20-year-old’s inexperience — with just 23 international caps going into the tournament — proved fatal for the team in high-pressure situations. Gurjit’s return could give a fillip to the team but in the long run it will help in Deepika’s development. Gurjit, who turns 30 next year, will probably not last in the team till the 2026 Asian Games and World Cup.

“If you look at any other country in the top-10, they have five-six drag-flickers. So there’s work that needs to be happening in talent development,” the coach said.

There is a similar scenario in other areas as well. Goalkeeper Savita, defender Nikki Pradhan, mid-fielder Monika and forward Vandana Katariya are all in their 30s, while mid-fielders Navneet Kaur, Neha and Nisha are in their late 20s.

Off all these senior players, Savita’s eventual departure will arguably leave the biggest hole. The next best option for India currently is 23-year-old Bichu Devi, who has so far played only 23 international games. In fact, in the 24-member squad selected for the Pro League, 15 players have made less than 100 international appearances each.

“In the Pro League, we have the opportunity to see how we fare against some of the best teams in the world,” Schopman said.

Except India, all the teams in the India leg have qualified for Paris. “The exciting thing is that these are not practice matches, it is hugely important for these teams before the Olympics and it will be great to take them on,” she said.

Pro League: India leg

The India leg involves the host team, Olympics and world champions Netherlands, Australia, USA and Asian Games winners China. The teams will face each other once in Bhubaneswar (February 3 to 9) and once in Rourkela (February 12 to 18).