Veteran goalkeeper Savita Punia has withdrawn from the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers due to personal reasons, with Salima Tete named as the captain of the 20-member Indian squad.
For women's hockey goalkeeping stalwart Savita Punia, the Padma Shri is more than a national honour -- it is a quiet acknowledgement of years marked by sacrifice, resilience, and unwavering belief, both her own and that of a family that stood by her when the odds were firmly stacked against her.
India women's captain Harmanpreet Kaur and former men's skipper Rohit Sharma headline the list of sportspersons to be honoured with Padma awards this Republic Day.
'My next target for the whole year is very important. I have always set my goals in life. So now I have only one goal in my mind, that is we must win a gold medal in the Asian Games and directly qualify for the Olympics.'
Bangladesh's local media reported on Wednesday, quoting sources in the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) that Ridhima was axed from the BPL.
Vijay Amritraj gets Padma Bhushan; Rohit Sharma, Harmanpreet Kaur receive Padma Shri
For the year 2026, the President has approved the conferment of 131 Padma awards. The list comprises five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri.
'Many of the players I played alongside like Harmanpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Krishan Pathak are doing very well today. Somewhere, there is regret that I could not do that.'
India have come into the tournament without the injured duo of veteran goalkeeper Savita Punia and ace drag-flicker Deepika.
India beat Korea 4-2 in women's Asia Cup hockey Super 4 stage
Navneet Kaur struck from a penalty corner seconds before the final hooter as India came from behind twice to hold defending champions Japan to a 2-2 draw
India conceded more than 100 penalty corners, including 17 in a game against Belgium across 16 Pro League matches.
India captain Harmanpreet Singh and senior goalkeeper Savita Punia won the Hockey India Balbir Singh Senior Player of the Year award.
JSW Soorma Hockey Club earned a comprehensive 5-1 victory over Delhi SG Pipers in the Women's Hockey India League.
It was stalwart India goalkeeper and former skipper Savita Punia's 300th international match but she was beaten in the seventh minute by a reverse hit from a Reijnen.
India began their Women's Pro League campaign with a thrilling 3-2 victory over England at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium.
Germany clinched their first win of the season as they stormed to a 4-0 win against India in the women's FIH Hockey Pro League.
The Indian women's hockey team lost 0-1 to Spain in the return leg match of the FIH Pro League.
Charlotte Englebert scored a hat-trick to power JSW Soorma Hockey Club to the final of the inaugural Women's Hockey India League with a 4-2 win over Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers.
Despite a tense final quarter that saw multiple penalty corners, Spain's defence stood firm to deny Germany an equaliser.
Women's HIL will provide financial stability to junior players and attract youth to hockey: Savita Punia
Savita Punia and P R Sreejesh were named FIH Goalkeepers of the Year for the second consecutive year.
The Indian women's hockey team continued its winless streak in the Belgium leg of the FIH Pro League, slumping to 0-3 defeat against Argentina in Antwerp on Sunday.
Indian women's hockey team's new captain Salima Tete hopes to utilise the "valuable lessons" learnt from the recent home series against South Africa to make a fresh start in the European leg of the FIH Pro League, beginning in Antwerp, Belgium on Wednesday.
Indian women produced a flawless effort to outwit United States 3-1 and end this leg of the Hockey Pro League on a winning note in Bhubaneswar on Friday.
Mid-fielder Salima Tete on Thursday replaced veteran goalkeeper Savita Punia as captain of the 24-strong Indian women's hockey squad for the Belgium and England legs of the FIH Pro League starting later this month.
Seeking the services of American psychologist and mental conditioning coach Peter Harberl, following a disappointing Asian Games, has played a significant role in the Indian women's hockey team's turnaround in the ongoing FIH Olympic Qualifiers.
A day after upsetting world No.3 Australia, India women once again played an entertaining and fast-paced brand of hockey to defeat the United States 2-1 via shootout in an FIH Pro League match in Rourkela on Sunday.
Vandana Katariya scored from a penalty corner to help the Indian women's hockey team stun world number 3 Australia 1-0 in the FIH Pro League.
Love for Gold and Longing for Husband: Indian hockey captain Savita gears up for Asiad
They had a golden chance to equalise with Deep Grace Ekka taking the strike from close range as the ball took a deflection from Vandana Katariya but only to ricochet off the crossbar in the second quarter.
India, South Korea play out 1-1 draw in women's hockey
India held their nerves in the shootout to emerge winners.
Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Tuesday asserted that the Indian contingent will win a record number of medals in the upcoming Asian Games in Huangzhou, China.
India lose 3-4 against Germany in shoot-out, to face Japan for Paris berth
A dominant India defeated Malaysia 6-0 to register their second consecutive win in the women's hockey competition at the Asian Games in Hangzhou on Friday.
Besides two goalkeepers, the Asian Games-bound team will have six defenders, five midfielders and as many forwards.
The Indian defenders had another good day in office as they didn't put a foot wrong to deny Italy any open chance.
Sangita hits hat-trick as India blank Singapore 13-0 in Asian Games women's hockey
The Indian women thus avenged their 0-1 defeat against Japan in the last edition of the Games in Jakarta in 2018.
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