India, July 9 -- After placing fourth in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, just a hair away from winning a bronze medal, the Indian women's hockey team gave fans reason to be optimistic about the future. But since then, the team has only gone downhill, reaching a new low in each successive season.

After failing to make the cut for the 2024 Paris Olympics, Dutch native Janneke Schopman was fired from her position as head coach. Following a break of about six years, Hockey India named Harendra Singh as its coach once more.

India lost all eight of its away games in the 2023–24 Pro League under him, but it may be argued that Harendra had assumed control. After coming in eighth place, India narrowly avoided being demoted.

The side recovered by winning the 2024 Asian Champions Trophy in Rajgir, where they were undefeated throughout the competition. However, India simply couldn't keep up with the pace of the top teams in the world during the 2024–25 Pro League season, finishing ninth and last in the relegation battle.

"We are disappointed to be out of the Pro League. We were at a disadvantage because Nikki (Pradhan), Udita, and Sushila (Chanu), three trustworthy defenders, were hurt prior to joining the Pro League. From Thiruvananthapuram, Harendra said that Jyoti Singh and Vaishnavi (Vitthal Phalke), two midfielders, had to be moved into defensive positions.

"It was a huge transition. As a result, we gave up 52 penalty corners, which is a lot. Additionally, we gave up 35% of PC goals. That was a significant distinction.

India only managed to win two, draw three, and lose eleven of the sixteen games. As a result, they were demoted to the Nations Cup, which they won in 2022 to be promoted to the Pro League.

"The problem areas are not giving away soft PCs. Don't give in; instead, donate. Additionally, the squad is inexperienced and young. Six or seven people were making their debut in the Pro League. They need to learn how to manage their time and their game. According to Harendra, we gave away a lot of soft PCs that had been transformed with only seconds remaining.

"We must also get better at making decisions, such as when you are entering the opponent's circle or tackling within the circle. We were quite competitive in terms of talent and fitness, and we played the kind of hockey we wanted to play.

India had to take the Pro League route in order to be eligible for the 2026 World Cup since they were unable to do so at the Paris Games. If that is not accomplished, the next chance will be at the Asia Cup, which will take place in Hangzhou, China, from September 5–14.

Japan will be looking to defend their championship, making it difficult. Hosts China, the best Asian squad in the world, might be India's greatest challenge. The current Asian Games winners and Paris Games silver medalists, No. 4.

We were quite present in the previous two matches against China, both of which India lost. The odds are 50/50 for us (at the Asia Cup). We must maintain our composure and remember time and game management. "It's always 50-50 against China if you know that and are not giving soft PCs," Harendra continued.

"The outcome is not defined by the fact that our new team has made a lot of circle penetrations." That's a challenge. Players must manage their emotions. They prioritize scoring above selecting the high-quality skills that will help you achieve the desired outcome, whether it be a goal or a PC.

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