The Indian women’s hockey team was once on the cusp of greatness. Their remarkable run at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, where they finished fourth and narrowly missed out on a bronze medal, captured the imagination of a nation and signaled the rise of a new powerhouse in world hockey. However, in the years that followed, the momentum has all but vanished. Inconsistent performances, injuries, and strategic errors have gradually pulled the team down from those lofty heights. Now, with Harendra Singh returning as head coach, the challenge is clear: he must rebuild, refocus, and revive a team that has lost its way.
A Promising Start That Didn’t Last
The Tokyo Olympics was a high watermark. That fourth-place finish made headlines and inspired thousands of young girls across India to dream big. But since then, the team has not lived up to expectations. Results have faltered, and the performance graph has dipped steadily.
The most crushing blow came when the team failed to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. It was a huge setback and one that signaled a need for change. Consequently, Janneke Schopman, the then-head coach from the Netherlands, was removed from her position. In her place, Hockey India turned once again to Harendra Singh—a seasoned coach familiar with the setup, having previously coached both the men’s and women’s teams.
A Tough Start for Harendra’s Second Stint
Harendra’s return, however, was anything but smooth. India’s campaign in the 2023–24 FIH Pro League, which began soon after he took over, was dismal. The team lost all eight of their away games and managed to finish eighth overall—just avoiding relegation. While some critics were quick to point fingers, others acknowledged that the coach had barely any time to implement his ideas or get the team into shape.
Nevertheless, India did show signs of resilience shortly afterward. The team bounced back impressively in the 2024 Asian Champions Trophy held in Rajgir, where they remained unbeaten throughout and clinched the title. It was a much-needed confidence booster and hinted at what the team could achieve when playing to its strengths.
But that optimism was short-lived. In the subsequent 2024–25 FIH Pro League season, the Indian women were outpaced and outperformed by the top international teams. They finished ninth and last, resulting in relegation from the prestigious competition. It was a harsh reality check and one that exposed deeper issues within the squad.
Injury Woes and Tactical Challenges
Reflecting on the disappointing performance, Harendra cited several key reasons for the team’s underwhelming campaign. One of the most significant setbacks was the absence of three key defenders—Nikki Pradhan, Udita, and Sushila Chanu—who were sidelined due to injuries just before the tournament began. Their absence forced the coaching staff to shuffle the lineup, placing midfielders Jyoti Singh and Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke in defensive roles.
This tactical adjustment had major consequences. Without a solid backline, India struggled to hold off opposition attacks and conceded an alarming 52 penalty corners during the league. Of those, 35% were converted into goals—highlighting a serious weakness in both defensive discipline and execution.
India played 16 games, winning only two, drawing three, and losing 11. These numbers not only reflected a performance crisis but also led to their relegation back to the Nations Cup—the very tournament they had won in 2022 to gain Pro League promotion in the first place.
The Road Ahead: Building from the Ground Up
Harendra acknowledges the shortcomings but remains focused on finding solutions. According to him, the biggest areas of concern lie in giving away soft penalty corners and lacking the composure to defend them. He believes much of this stems from inexperience, with six to seven players making their Pro League debut during the season.
“We gave away too many penalty corners in the dying moments of the quarters. That shows poor time and game management,” Harendra said. “The players need to learn how to control the clock and the tempo. It’s not just about skills, but understanding how to manage different phases of the game.”
Another major issue is decision-making—both in defense and attack. Tackling inside the defensive circle and converting circle penetrations in the opposition’s half have been inconsistent. Harendra pointed out that although the team created many attacking opportunities, they lacked composure in front of goal. Players, he said, were often too eager to score, which led to rushed decisions rather than waiting for high-quality opportunities that could lead to goals or earned penalty corners.
The Asia Cup Challenge
With the team now out of the Paris Olympics and relegated from the Pro League, the next major opportunity lies in the upcoming Asia Cup, scheduled to be held in Hangzhou, China from September 5 to 14, 2025. This tournament now assumes critical importance—not only as a chance for redemption but also as a potential qualification route for the 2026 Hockey World Cup.
However, it will be anything but easy. Defending champions Japan will aim to retain their crown, but the biggest hurdle for India is likely to be the host nation, China. Currently ranked No.4 in the world, China are the reigning Asian Games champions and silver medallists at the upcoming Paris Olympics.
“Against China in the last two matches, we were right there,” Harendra observed. “It’s always a 50-50 game against them. If we can manage our emotions, avoid giving away silly penalty corners, and focus on executing our strategy, we have a solid chance.”
The focus will now shift to preparations for that challenge. Harendra and his team have a few weeks to regroup, work on positional stability, refine penalty corner defense, and most importantly, bring back the confidence that once made them a formidable unit on the global stage.
A Team in Transition
There is no denying that the Indian women’s hockey team is currently in a state of transition. The mix of experienced campaigners and young debutants offers a rich blend of potential, but also the unpredictability that comes with inexperience. Harendra’s biggest challenge lies in harnessing this potential and transforming it into consistent performance under pressure.
The emphasis is now on developing not just technical skills but also mental resilience and tactical awareness. With a clear roadmap and better player availability, Harendra has the tools at his disposal. What he needs now is time, belief, and support to guide this talented bunch back to where they belong—among the world’s best.
India’s women’s hockey team has already shown it can rise against the odds. Now, it must do it again—with smarter preparation, sharper strategy, and a hunger to reclaim its lost glory.
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