THE DREAM TEAM

Following a gutsy performance at the Tokyo Olympics, the Indian women's hockey team has captured the spirit and imagination of the country. As the team competes in the Women's FIH Hockey World Cup this month, KAYAL ARIVALAN traces its journey from underdog to victors

- KAYAL ARIVALAN

On a bustling day in Bhubaneswar, women in crisp blue uniforms were sighted honing their shoot-outs and drag-flicking techniques at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium. The 16-member squad currently representing India at the Women's FIH Hockey World Cup - being hosted in Spain and the Netherlands this month - was preparing to face some tough encounters.

Despite its heartbreaking exit from the Tokyo Olympics in August 2021, the team's performance was widely lauded. After losing three consecutive; games, the women bounced back to stay afloat by defeating the mighty Aussies. They might have missed out on a podium finish, but their fight was one for the history books. Sure, there were some notable feats of individual brilliance at the Tokyo Olympics, but this 16-member team will be remembered for its teamwork and dedication to one another.

The current World Cup squad has players hailing from Haryana, Jharkhand, Mizoram, Manipur, Odisha, Punjab, Uttarakhand and other states. Yet, on the field, they so noticeably pull together for India.

Most of them are from impoverished backgrounds and have fought poverty and gender prejudice from adolescence. At times, the prospect of a government position and a steady wage has had to take precedence over sports ambitions, but, at the end, hockey has prevailed.