Salima Tete Leads Charge As Women's Hockey India League Makes Historic Debut Today (Image: X/HockeyIndiaLeag)
The Women’s Hockey India League (HIL) is all set to make its mark on Indian hockey with the inaugural edition kicking off on January 12, today in Ranchi, Jharkhand. The four-team tournament will feature some of the biggest names in Indian women’s hockey, including national team captain Salima Tete.
Tete, who will be leading the Soorma Hockey Club is excited to be a part of this historic moment. “This is a golden opportunity for all of us in Indian women’s hockey,” she said. “We have this platform to show how well we can play, and I’m looking forward to enjoying my hockey this season and helping Soorma win matches,” quoted by The Indian Express.
The Soorma Hockey Club will be making their debut on January 13 and Tete hopes to see a familiar face in the audience – her father, Sulakshan.
“My parents have supported me from the beginning, and they continue to do so today,” she said. “They worked hard to give me the platform for my hockey, and now it’s time for me to play well and acknowledge everything they’ve done,” she said.
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Tete’s father, a hockey player himself, has been a constant source of inspiration for her. “He never stopped me from doing anything when it came to hockey,” she said.
“He taught me to focus on doing everything in my capacity to help the team, and not focus on the result. Even now, when I go home, he tells me to concentrate on my process, and the results will follow.”
The Women’s Hockey India League is a monumental step forward for Indian women’s hockey, providing a platform for players to showcase their skills and compete against each other.
The tournament will feature four teams – Soorma Hockey Club, Delhi SG Pipers, Odisha Warriors, and Rarh Bengal Tigers – and will be played in a double round-robin format.
The top two teams in the points table at the end of the league stage will qualify for the final, which will be played on January 29. The tournament will be a thrilling showcase of Indian women’s hockey, and fans can expect to see some exciting matches and talented players in action.
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With Salima Tete leading the charge, the Soorma Hockey Club will be looking to make a strong start to the tournament. The team will be coached by Jude Menezes, a former Olympian who has experience coaching the Japanese women’s team.
The Delhi SG Pipers, meanwhile, will be led by experienced India forward Navneet Kaur, who has been named as the team’s captain. The team will be coached by Dave Smolenaars, a Dutch coach who has experience working with the Indian women’s team.
The Odisha Warriors will be led by Indian international Neha Goyal, who has been named as the team’s captain. The team will be coached by Janneke Schopman, a Dutch coach who has experience working with the Indian women’s team.
The Rarh Bengal Tigers, meanwhile, will be led by Indian defender Udita Duhan, who has been named as the team’s captain. The team will be coached by Glenn Turner, an Australian coach who has experience working with the Australian men’s team.
