Amstelveen, From a daunting list of nearly 20 injuries when they began their preparations in January to finishing fifth at the World Cup, India’s women hockey team has undergone a remarkable transformation, says strength and conditioning coach Dr Wayne Lombard.
India signed off with an impressive 3-1 win over higher-ranked Germany in the fifth-place playoff here on Thursday, a result Lombard believes reflects not only the team’s physical progress but also the growth in their confidence and belief. “When we came in January, we had a list of about 20 injuries and now we have finished fifth in the World Cup. Having failed to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics, relegated from the FIH Pro League, and battling with many issues, the team had a lot to prove in this WC. Since then, Indian team qualified for the World Cup, returned to Pro League with the Nations Cup title and now at the World Cup they capped their best result in 52 years.
It says it all,” Lombard told PTI. Mathias Vila, the team’s assistant coach said India’s progress was also rooted in greater exposure to higher-ranked opposition and a better understanding of how to play collectively. They now understand better how to play as a team.” he said.
“It’s important to play against the higher-ranked teams and to know how to beat them.Indian players are very skillful and have a lot of will, but now they are playing with better structure and defence. He also pointed to the Women’s Hockey India League as an important part of the team’s development, saying it has changed the way Indian players view and interact with international stars.
