Savita Punia, the captain of the Indian girls’s hockey crew, in an unique interview with Zee News spoke candidly about her journey as a hockey participant, the adjustments in her life after marriage, and the controversial penalty shootout within the Commonwealth Games 2022 semifinals. Punia, who hails from Haryana, has been a distinguished member of the Indian girls’s hockey crew for over a decade. She has represented the nation in quite a few worldwide tournaments, together with the Olympics and the World Cup. In the interview, she shared how her ardour for hockey began, her struggles to steadiness her research and sports activities, and her journey to changing into the captain of the Indian crew.
Apart from her journey as a hockey participant, Punia additionally spoke about her private life and the adjustments which have include marriage. She shared how her husband, a former hockey participant himself, has been a pillar of help for her and the way they handle their busy schedules. The dialog additionally touched upon the controversial penalty shootout within the Commonwealth Games 2022 semifinals, the place India misplaced to Australia. Punia opened up concerning the emotional curler coaster of the sport, the challenges of the penalty shootout, and the crew’s disappointment at lacking out on the gold medal. Overall, Punia’s interview with Zee News affords an insightful look into the lifetime of a top-tier girls’s hockey participant and the ups and downs of competing on the highest degree.
How has marriage modified your life?
I feel I’m very fortunate that my life has not modified in any respect after marriage, it’s going precisely because it was earlier than the marriage. My in-laws are supporting me simply as a lot as my mother and father are. I really feel that now I’ve blessings from extra individuals which helps me enhance my sport and giving me extra vitality.
What impressed you to start out enjoying hockey, and the way did you get your begin within the sport?
I began enjoying Hockey means again in 2003. When I began enjoying the sport I had no information concerning the sport and I didn’t even know that I’ll find yourself enjoying the sport for all times. When I used to be in class there have been three choices after passing the bodily check, one was hockey and the opposite two had been Judo and Badminton. My grandfather stated that for those who play Hockey then I might be happy with you. When I bought into the varsity Hockey crew I labored actually onerous. If my coach was asking me to do 10 rounds I did 10 rounds. As I used to be tall my coach requested my dad to make me a goalkeeper and stated that if she performs with dedication then she will certainly play for India. But to be a goalkeeper you want a equipment. At that point the price of a equipment was 18 thousand rupees and my father’s wage was 11 thousand however nonetheless, he didn’t hesitate to purchase me the equipment at that second I had tears in my eyes and I by no means appeared again. Â
You’ve had an extended and profitable profession representing India in worldwide competitions. What have been a few of the highlights for you up to now?
In the final 4 to 5 years we’ve finished fairly effectively as a crew. But for me, the primary one can be to be named within the Indian camp. From 2008 to 2013 I didn’t within the crew, however in 2013 I bought my probability. After that, in 2013 I received the very best goalkeeper award within the Asia Cup. Then in 2016 once we certified for the Olympics it was once more a dream come true second for us however I imagine that our mindset was not proper. We had been completely happy after qualifying, that was our objective. And thus we couldn’t carry out in that occasion. However, in Tokyo, we bettered our report and that was the very best second ever.
You took over the captaincy from Rani Rampal when she was injured and now you’re the common captain of the facet. How did the transition happen?
A senior participant within the crew is at all times the captain of the facet. You don’t want a captain’s tag to steer the facet. We type a management group and everyone seems to be invited to offer their solutions. We even embrace younger gamers within the group in order that they can even acquire confidence and their in-game will enhance. Of course, captaincy is an additional duty on the participant’s shoulder. But I used to be ready for that As I used to be the vice-captain of the facet when Rani Rampal was the captain. We used to work on issues collectively. captain is one who doesn’t let her sport have an effect on her because of the stress of captaincy. In Hockey, we play with plenty of unity, possibly this doesn’t occur in different video games like cricket.
What was your first response after the shootout controversy within the Common Wealthgames 2022 semi-final defeat to Australia?
Ahhhh…, It nonetheless harm. I used to be harm, actually harm. I used to be shocked and upset that what simply occurred. The participant that got here for the hit is a good striker and My confidence went up once I did the save. There had been two sides to the occasion. One we made the save which gave us confidence, second they missed the hit which implies they are going to be underconfident, however. Everything modified because the umpire stated the clock had not began. But what we discovered from that scenario is that we should always not have let that have an effect on our mindset. If we might have stored the momentum going then may have received the sport. We shouldn’t let ourselves down by one thing that isn’t in our management. We had by no means heard one thing like that ‘Clock Did Not Start’. Thus we misplaced our clam. Our attackers additionally bought distracted.
