PM Modi congratulates Indian women's hockey team on FIH Nations Cup triumph
New Delhi, June 21
PM Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed the Indian women's hockey team on winning the FIH Hockey Women's Nations Cup, praising their outstanding performances throughout the tournament.
He said the team's success has brought pride and joy to the nation and expressed hope that the victory would inspire more youngsters to take up hockey.
The Indian Women's Hockey Team clinched the FIH Hockey Women's Nations Cup title with a commanding 2-0 victory over hosts New Zealand in the final in Auckland on Sunday.
"Indian hockey players bring pride and joy! Congratulations to the women's team for emerging as winners in the FIH Hockey Women's Nations Cup. The team played exceptionally well throughout the entire tournament. Best wishes to the team. May this win inspire several others to play hockey," PM Modi wrote in an X post.
Navneet Kaur (4') gave India the early lead before Sunelita Toppo (15') doubled India's advantage. The team produced a stellar defensive display to protect their lead and win the title, which also marked their return to the FIH Hockey Women's Pro League next season.
Lalremsiami won the 'Player of the Match' award in the final, while Deepika finished as the joint-top scorer in the tournament with six goals to her name, sharing the honours with USA's Ashley Sessa.
This is India's second Nations Cup title, having won the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2022.
India remained unbeaten throughout their campaign, defeating USA (3-2), Japan (2-1), and Uruguay (3-2) in the Pool A matches before registering a commanding 6-0 win over Chile in the semi-final. They delivered an excellent performance in the final to clinch the title with a 2-0 victory over New Zealand.
To recognise the teams' achievements, Hockey India announced a cash award of Rs 3 lakh for each player and Rs 1.5 lakh for each member of the support staff.
— ANI
Reader Comments
So proud of our women hockey players! Navneet Kaur and Sunelita Toppo scored in the first 15 minutes itself - what a start! And that defensive display to hold on to the lead was phenomenal. The Rs 3 lakh cash award from Hockey India is a nice gesture, but I hope the government also does more for grassroots hockey development across the country.
Great performance by India! I watched the final and was impressed by their discipline and teamwork. The way they defended as a unit against New Zealand was exceptional. Deepika finishing as joint-top scorer with six goals is a testament to her talent. This team has a bright future ahead.
Second Nations Cup title! This team is no fluke - they've proven their consistency. What I also appreciate is how Hockey India supported them with cash rewards. But honestly, our women's hockey team deserves much more visibility and sponsorship. They are true role models for the next generation. ✨
Wonderful news! But while we celebrate this victory, let's also remember that hockey in India needs more investment at the grassroots level. The women's team has done brilliantly despite limited resources compared to other sports. PM Modi's words are encouraging, but concrete action to promote hockey in schools and academies would be even better.
Congrats to India on a well-deserved victory! The 6-0 win over Chile in the semis was particularly impressive. Returns to the Pro League next season too - that's huge for their development. Great to see hockey growing in India again.
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