Defensive Lapses and Missed Opportunities: The Women’s Pro League Relegation Story

In late May, Harendra Singh was optimistic as he prepared to depart for Europe. The head coach of the Indian women’s hockey team was confident about the team’s prospects for qualifying for the 2026 World Cup via the Pro League, despite missing out on the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The optimism seemed well-founded. The team management had invested considerable effort during the national camps earlier in the year. New talent was introduced into the team, a series of friendly matches in Australia was organized, and Dutch drag-flick legend Taeke Taekema was routinely involved in training India’s penalty corner specialists. Additionally, Deepika Sehrawat and Manisha Chauhan were sent to the Netherlands to train under renowned PC coach Toon Siepman.

Nevertheless, during the crucial matches, the team led by Salima Tete failed to perform and was unexpectedly relegated from the Pro League to the Nations Cup after finishing last in the nine-team elite competition. Over 16 games spanning five months, India secured only two wins, suffered 11 losses, and drew three times, ultimately leading to their relegation.

During the European leg, India lost seven out of eight matches and also lost in a shootout in the only draw they achieved against Argentina, who qualified for the World Cup by finishing second. The Netherlands won the league, having already qualified as hosts.

“Not participating in the Pro League is a significant disadvantage because it provides an opportunity to face the best teams, which is crucial for enhancing your hockey skills. Competing in international matches is far superior to any training session,” former India chief coach Sjoerd Marijne, who led the team to a historic fourth place at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, told HT from Den Bosch.

“You learn so much from participating in it. That’s why it’s such a disappointment not to qualify. In the Pro League, you constantly play under pressure, which is ideal for team growth and preparation for the Olympics and World Cup qualification,” he added.

The Pro League has been a significant factor in the recent success of the Indian men’s team. Competing against top-tier players and challenging world-class teams brought out the best in the Harmanpreet Singh-led squad, which did not shy away from facing the best, resulting in India becoming the only team to medal at both the Tokyo and Paris Olympics. India also defeated Australia at the Olympics for the first time in 52 years and established a substantial lead over other Asian teams.

However, the women’s team has been underwhelming. A primary reason for their downfall was their inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities. Players like Salima, Lalremsiami, and Sharmila Devi often advanced from the flanks, but the attacking midfielders and strikers struggled to convert half chances.

The defense was also found lacking. Despite having experienced goalkeeper Savita Punia, India managed only one clean sheet in the 16 games. Some younger defenders appeared overwhelmed when facing opposing strikers, leading to a lack of structure and conceding goals and penalty corners. India scored 22 goals but conceded 43.

“There seemed to be a lack of hunger to win. This is a quality that should be evident on the field. I felt that the players were not putting in their full effort or playing with the mindset to win,” said former India captain Pritam Rani Siwach from Sonipat. “It’s a significant setback, especially for the young players and their future. We’ve regressed,” she added.

India’s next chance to qualify for the 2026 World Cup will be at the Hangzhou Asia Cup in September.

“Qualifying for the World Cup now becomes the priority. That’s where I would focus my efforts: playing more matches against Asian teams to understand what we will face in the Asia Cup. Competing against European and top world teams is currently less significant for me,” former women’s coach Neil Hawgood, who led India to their first Olympic qualification in 36 years in 2016, told HT from Brisbane.

The Asia Cup won’t be an easy challenge. Although India has won the Asian Champions Trophy in the last two years, they will face hosts China, who secured a silver medal at the Paris Games and defeated India in the Pro League.