When the Indian women's hockey team made a brilliant run at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and finished fourth, it was seen as a sign of massive progress. Later when they finished third in the previous edition of the FIH Pro League, it was seen as a sign of their ability to compete against the best.
This meant they went into the World Cup in July with a lot of optimism. The expectation was that they would push hard for a spot in the semis but the journey ended on a disappointing note as they finished ninth. Janneke Schopman's team then went to the Commonwealth Games and managed to meet expectations, winning the bronze medal.
Through these highs and lows that India has experienced over the last year or so, there were a few questions around their overall development. Do they really have it in them to aim for a medal in major competitions? How long before we can peg them as the favourites?
India's performance in the recently-concluded FIH Women's Nations Cup showed that the team is somewhere in the middle. They do have the players to compete and upset higher-ranked teams on their day, but they will need to make improvements to rise up a level or two.
Deserving champions of FIH Nations Cup
The last time India played in the Pro League, it was due to the fact that Australia and New Zealand skipped it because of COVID-19 restrictions. This was not the case this time.
Savita Punia and co. qualified for next year's Pro League on merit, beating Spain 1-0 in a tough final.
Spain came hard at them, especially in the second half but India withstood pressure, thwarted chances, blocked shots and produced big moments.
The semifinal against Ireland saw a similar kind of performance. If the defence stepped up big time in the final, the attacking unit pushed hard for the equaliser in the semis, as India were trailing for most of the game. The goal finally came in the third quarter and Savita did the rest in the penalty shootout.
Even in the group stage match against Japan, who finished third in the tournament, India similarly came under intense pressure in the final quarter but managed to pull off a 2-1 win.
All of this is to say that this was not an easy tournament for India. A single defeat would've made a big impact on their Pro League chances. They played three quite difficult matches and won all of them to lift the trophy.
Now, how can India make use of the Pro League?
Playing in the Pro League - where only the top 9 teams compete - has many advantages. Playing the best sides in the sport for over half a year improves the team's standards. It helped India the last time, when they faced the likes of Netherlands, Argentina, Belgium and England.
This becomes even more important because India's domestic hockey structure is not the strongest. The jump for an Indian player from domestic to international level is huge. Countries like Australia, Netherlands, Argentina and England don't face this problem because of a much better domestic setup.
Now, India might not be aiming to win the Pro League because they are not there yet, but just competing provides a great opportunity for youngsters and new players to make transition to the higher level. Playing against different teams is a chance to learn about their methods and style of play. It then becomes a tad easier when they face those teams in a crucial knockout game.
Additionally, India have been playing with the same core for the last two-three years. The bench strength is not good enough at the moment, a fact that can be seen through the difficulty in finding good options for penalty corners. Gurjit Kaur played a key role in the final to help India win the Nations Cup title, but her form has come under intense scrutiny over the last year. Deep Grace Ekka is the second-best option for India, but the conversion rate is not up to the mark.
At some point, coach Schopman will need to bring in new faces to create competition for places. If she could be ruthless with Rani Rampal by dropping her, then it's obvious that the same policy is applicable for other members too.
The Pro League is the perfect platform for upcoming players to test themselves and make their case for a long-term future in the national team. The pressure to win the tournament is not intense, so Schopman can use the time to blood youngsters and form new strategies.
Next year is a crucial one for the Indian hockey. Savita Punia & Co. have the Asian Games which provides the biggest opportunity to qualify for the Olympics. Being the best ranked team in Asia, they will be expected to win the gold and make it to the Paris Olympics. The added advantage of playing in the Pro League will help them rise up and be among the top three or four best nations in the sport globally as well.