Savita Punia Backs Stronger Soorma Hockey Club To Go A Step Further In Women's HIL

Savita Punia Backs Stronger Soorma Hockey Club To Go A Step Further In Women's HIL Soorma co-captain Savita Punia is confident of her club winning the Women's Hockey India League title this time around. Share Your Feedback + Follow usOn Google Soorma Hockey Club enjoyed a brilliant start to their campaign in the inaugural Women’s Hockey India League last year. They opened with a dominant 4-1 win over Rarh Bengal Tigers, followed it up with a 2-1 victory against eventual champions Odisha Warriors, before suffering a 0-2 setback against Delhi SG Pipers. The return fixtures saw mixed results. Soorma bounced back emphatically with a 5-1 thrashing of Delhi, but later went down to Odisha in a penalty shootout. They then defeated Bengal 4-2 to seal a place in the final, where they once again fell short against Odisha Warriors. Recommended Stories Despite the heartbreak, Soorma forward Jyoti Rumavat capped off a stellar campaign by winning the Player of the Tournament award. Ahead of the second season, News18 Sports spoke to Soorma co-captain Savita Punia about the team’s plans to go one step further, her role in mentoring young goalkeeper Nidhi Phalswal, and more. Excerpts: You finished as runners-up last season. What’s the plan to cross the final hurdle this time? We are well prepared. From the first day of camp, we had open and healthy discussions. Last season, we played very good hockey and, based on our performances, we felt we deserved the title. That said, results are part of the game. This time, we have a very strong team, and we are confident of winning the trophy. You share goalkeeping duties with Nidhi Phalswal. How do you see her progress? Nidhi is very eager to learn. She asks a lot of questions and is always keen to improve. Junior and senior camps often run together, and whenever I have time, she comes to me for advice. I tell her she has a bright future, but discipline and hard work are essential to perform consistently at the highest level. What do you try to pass on to her as a senior goalkeeper? Consistency and focus are key. Everyone wants to perform well, but daily discipline is what makes the difference. I try to help her as much as I can, and it is special that we are both Indian goalkeepers training and playing together. Nidhi’s energy actually helps me relax rather than feel pressure. How has your relationship been with head coach Jude Menezes? It has been very good. I have known Jude since his time as New Zealand’s goalkeeper coach and later as Japan’s head coach. I really like the positive environment he creates. Jude gives players the freedom to express themselves, which is very important. What’s been the main focus during short camps before the league? With just 15-20 days together, it is not about teaching too much hockey. Everyone already has the skills. The focus is on staying connected, building unity and showing fighting spirit on the...

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