CHENNAI: The Indian women’s hockey team has endured a demanding year, beginning with relegation from the FIH Pro League to the FIH Nations League, the competition’s second tier, after finishing bottom of the standings. More recently, the side lost the final of the Women’s Asia Cup, missing out on direct qualification for next year’s FIH Women’s World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands.

The team will now rely on the World Cup qualifiers, to be held in Hyderabad from March 8 to 14, in what will be a last-ditch attempt to secure a berth at the tournament. India will compete alongside England, Korea, Uruguay, Austria, and Scotland, with a top-three finish required to progress.

“We accept that we made mistakes this year. Everyone in the team wants to qualify for the upcoming World Cup, and our full focus is on the qualifiers in March,” India captain Salima Tete told DT Next. “We are also working to improve our rankings, which have dropped recently.”

Earlier in December, head coach Harendra Singh resigned after around 20 months in charge, amid allegations of favouritism and an overbearing approach. His exit coincided with reports of eroding trust within the squad and tensions inside the national camp.

Hockey India is now in the process of appointing a new head coach. Tete acknowledged that the transition may initially be challenging.

“When a new coach comes in, it is always difficult at the start — understanding his training style and methods can take time, and there will be differences,” she said. “But we don’t have much time before the qualifiers, so whoever comes in, we must adjust quickly and work together for the betterment of the national team.”

At the franchise level, Tete will co-captain JSW Soorma Hockey Club alongside goalkeeper Savita Punia in the upcoming Hockey India League, as the side looks to improve on its runners-up finish last season.

“We performed well last year and won silver; this time, we want to go one better,” she said. “All the teams are stronger this season, and we expect high-quality competition. There are foreign players as well, and everyone is learning from each other. The language barrier is still a challenge, but we are improving every day.”

Free tickets for Hockey India League in Chennai

Tickets for the men’s Hockey India League (HIL) matches scheduled to be held in Chennai from January 3 have gone live, with Hockey India announcing that entry will be free of cost in a bid to encourage spectator turnout.

The upcoming edition of the league will feature eight men’s teams and four women’s teams, with both competitions set to be played in revamped formats aimed at increasing competitiveness and fan engagement.

Free tickets can be booked through Ticketgenie’s web portal and mobile application, allowing fans to secure seats in advance while ensuring wider accessibility.

Matches from the tournament will be broadcast live on Sony Sports 1, Sony Sports 3, and Doordarshan Sports.