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The Indian women's hockey team embarks on a new Olympic cycle with the defense of its Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) title at home. Having endured a challenging year with limited victories, the team aims to turn the tide and showcase their resilience.Led by captain Salima Tete, India boasts a blend of youth and experience. Striker Navneet Kaur serves as Tete's deputy, bringing a wealth of attacking prowess. The team faces stiff competition from reigning Olympic silver medalists China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand.India's defense will be anchored by a solid lineup featuring Udita, Jyoti, Ishika Chaudhary, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, and Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke. The midfield will be marshaled by Tete, Neha, Sharmila Devi, Manisha Chauhan, Sunelita Toppo, and Lalremsiami.The forward line-up boasts the likes of Navneet Kaur, Sangita Kumari, Deepika, Preeti Dubey, and Beauty Dungdung. Goalkeeping duties will be shared between the experienced Savita and rising talent Bichu Devi Kharibam.Sushila and Beauty Dungdung make their return to the team after successful rehabilitation. India enters the tournament as one of the favorites alongside China, ranked sixth in the world. South Korea has won the tournament thrice, while Japan has claimed it twice.After missing out on Olympic qualification, India's new coach Harendra Singh aims to instill a renewed sense of purpose and focus on fitness. Captain Tete acknowledges the team's past struggles and emphasizes the importance of moving forward.The tournament marks the beginning of a new journey for the Indian women's hockey team, with their sights set on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The Indian women's hockey team's European leg of the FIH Pro League has taken a disappointing turn as they suffered a second consecutive defeat, this time to Belgium by a score of 1-2. The loss marks the team's seventh straight defeat against Belgium in international matches.Under the guidance of new coach Harendra Singh and captain Salima Tete, the Indian team has struggled to find its footing in the tournament. After a 0-5 thrashing by Argentina on Wednesday, they were hoping to bounce back against Belgium. However, the home side proved to be too strong, taking an early 2-0 lead in the first half.Belgium's goals came from penalty corners, with Ambre Ballenghien scoring in the 14th minute and Vanessa Blockmans adding another in the 20th. India managed to pull one back in the 34th minute through a field goal by Kumari Sangita, but it wasn't enough to secure a victory.Belgium's relentless pressure and effective penalty corner conversions proved to be the difference in the match. The Indian team struggled to create clear-cut chances and were unable to capitalize on the few opportunities they had.Despite the setbacks, the Indian team showed glimpses of their potential. They withstood Belgium's initial pressure and began to dominate possession in the second quarter. However, they were unable to sustain their momentum and Belgium regained control of the game.In the third quarter, India managed to score a goal through Sangita, but Belgium continued to threaten their defense. The final quarter saw both teams create chances, but neither could find the back of the net.The defeat leaves the Indian women's hockey team with a lot of work to do. They will face Argentina again on Sunday in their next match and will be hoping to end their losing streak and secure their first points in the tournament.

Harendra Singh, a seasoned coach with a proven track record in Indian hockey, has emerged as the frontrunner to replace Janneke Schopman as the head coach of the Indian women's hockey team. Singh recently appeared for an interview with Hockey India, the national governing body, which has indicated that he is the preferred candidate to lead the team after its disappointing failure to qualify for the Paris Olympics.Singh previously served as the head coach of the Indian women's team from 2017 to 2018, guiding them to a gold medal at the 2017 Asia Cup. He also coached the Indian junior men's team to victory at the 2016 Junior World Cup.Sources within Hockey India have expressed confidence in Singh's ability to revive the women's team. "Harendra is the best person to take the women's side to where it belongs," said a source. "He knows the structure of Indian hockey and has a proven track record of success."However, negotiations over Singh's salary could pose a challenge. As the current coach of the United States men's team, Singh is reportedly earning a substantial salary. Hockey India's salary cap for Indian coaches is Rs 3 lakh per month, but Singh may demand a higher amount.Hockey India secretary-general Bhola Nath Singh confirmed that Harendra appeared for the interview but emphasized that no decision has been made yet. "There are 11-12 candidates, and we will decide taking into account every aspect," he said.If appointed, Singh will replace Schopman, who resigned last month citing a difficult work environment for foreign coaches in India. Schopman's departure came after the women's team failed to qualify for the Paris Olympics, a major setback for Indian hockey.Singh's appointment would mark a return to the helm of the Indian women's team for the experienced coach. His previous stint with the team was cut short in 2018 when he was replaced by Dutchman Sjoerd Marijne.