The Indian males’s and ladies’s hockey groups embraced 2022 with the target of constructing on their good efficiency on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. With lots of expectations on their shoulders, each the Indian males’s and ladies’s groups put up a powerful present in an action-packed calendar 12 months. From ending third of their debut FIH Hockey Pro League 2021/22 season to clinching a historic Bronze at Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games to successful the inaugural version of FIH Women’s Nations Cup 2022, the Indian Women’s Hockey Team made big strides in 2022.

Indian girls’s hockey goalkeeper Savita mentioned that after two years of very restricted hockey because of the COVID-19 pandemic, they had been actually lucky that they acquired to play lots of thrilling tournaments this 12 months. “It was an action-packed 2022 and I believe we made the most of it. We focused on playing good hockey and that really helped us grow from strength to strength,” she mentioned.

The Indian males’s hockey staff too had an eventful 2022. They clinched the Bronze medal on the Asia Cup in Jakarta with a brand new set of gamers. This was adopted by the FIH Hockey 5s title and silver medal on the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. They additionally completed third within the FIH Hockey Pro League 2021/22 season.

“We did well, we played good hockey this year, but I believe we can do better than this. Overall, the year was full of positives. There were a lot of learnings involved, and we have a good momentum that will help us at the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar – Rourkela next month,” Indian Men’s Hockey drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh mentioned. Experienced ahead Vandana Katariya was bestowed Padma Shri award, whereas defender Deep Grace Ekka obtained the Arjuna Award for his or her contributions to the Indian girls’s hockey staff.

Both Indian males’s and ladies’s staff bagged 5 awards on the FIH Hockey Star Awards 2022- Savita (FIH Goalkeeper of The Year), Janneke Schopman (FIH Coach of the Year) Harmanpreet (FIH Player of the Year), PR Sreejesh (FIH Goalkeeper of The Year) and Graham Reid (FIH Coach of the Year). One of the largest highlights of 2022 was the Indian girls’s hockey staff successful the inaugural version of the FIH Women’s Nations Cup 2022 held in Valencia earlier this month.

The Savita-led staff remained unbeaten within the event. They topped Pool B, edged previous Ireland 2-1 in a shootout within the semi-final earlier than beating hosts Spain 1-0 in an exciting Final to clinch the title. The win secured the Indian staff’s place on the 2023-24 FIH Hockey Women’s Pro League. With their eyes on the subsequent 12 months’s calendar, Savita mentioned, “It’s a great feeling to secure a place in the next season of the FIH Pro League. Our goals for 2023 remain the same, we want to keep improving and doing better each and every day. We have the Asian Games scheduled next year, and the ultimate goal will be to win a Gold medal to secure a place at the Paris 2024 Olympics.”

The Indian males’s staff, who’re gearing up for the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar – Rourkela, began their new season of the FIH Hockey Pro League on a constructive be aware. They beat New Zealand 4-3 and 7-4 and registered a 2-2 (3-1 SO) win and a 2-3 loss in opposition to Spain of their opening set of matches which had been held in Bhubaneswar in October. They additionally travelled to Australia for a five-match check sequence in opposition to the World No.1side as a part of their preparations for the World Cup. Harmanpreet, who will lead India on the upcoming World Cup mentioned their speedy goal is to do effectively and begin the brand new 12 months with a podium end at World Cup.

“We have been given one more opportunity to play the prestigious event on our home soil, and we will give our absolute best to make our country proud by finishing on the podium.” “The World Cup will set the tone for the whole year. We have the Asian Games lined up, and our target is to win a Gold medal as it will ensure we secure a place at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The FIH Pro League matches will play a vital role in our preparations for the Asian Games,” he added. (ANI)

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