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Indian women's hockey team captain Salima Tete has identified fitness and mental toughness as key areas where the team needs to improve after a disappointing period following their historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics.Since their success in Tokyo, the team has failed to qualify for the Paris Olympics and has performed poorly in the FIH Pro League. Tete believes that a lack of fitness and mental resilience has contributed to these setbacks."We had to start from the beginning, from scratch," said Tete. "Fitness was an area that Harendra sir [chief coach Harendra Singh] had pointed out and which needs a lot of work."Tete acknowledged that the team had neglected fitness in the past, but under Singh's guidance, they have made significant progress. "We do work on our strength. I also noticed that we were not able to lift so much weight. The girls are now squatting more than 100kgs. This shows that we are working on our fitness."Mental toughness is another area where the team has focused on improving. They underwent an intensive mental strengthening and team building camp at the Indian Naval Academy in Kerala earlier this year."We didn't have mental experience," said Tete. "So, it [the camp] was very good. We didn't know how it was going to be. It was very hard but we handled it."Tete believes that the team has learned valuable lessons from their recent setbacks and is determined to bounce back. "We have learned that we won't get anything if we don't work hard. We won't be able to keep up."The team's focus is now on qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and finishing on the podium. "A new season has started for Indian women's hockey," said Tete. "The aim is to qualify for the Los Angeles Olympics and finish on the podium there."India will enter the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy as the defending champions, and Tete is confident that the team can retain their title. "We want to win this championship," she said. "We don't think about results, we just want to play our game."

The Indian women's hockey team recently underwent a transformative training camp at the Indian Naval Academy (INA) in Kannur, Kerala, aimed at enhancing their mental strength, discipline, and overall performance. The camp, held from July 15 to 21, was designed to instill key values such as team building, risk-taking, self-defense, survival techniques, and leadership skills.The camp's rigorous training regimen included unarmed combat drills, endurance runs, and boat pulling exercises. These activities were designed to push the players beyond their limits, foster unity, and develop their resilience. The team also participated in a naval drill, which emphasized discipline, coordination, and operational readiness.Chief coach Harendra Singh praised the INA's dedication to mental strengthening and team bonding, which he believes has transformed the young athletes into more competitive and resilient individuals. "The skills and discipline they have acquired here are invaluable," he said. "This experience has undoubtedly prepared our team to face any challenge on and off the field with renewed confidence and determination."The camp's structured routines and demanding drills enhanced the players' focus and commitment. A friendly match between the academy's hockey team and the Indian side provided an opportunity for the players to test their skills and interact with INA cadets.Deputy Commandant Indian Naval Academy Rear Admiral Prakash Gopalan emphasized the holistic development experience provided by the camp. "This training camp was designed to provide them with a holistic development experience, focusing on mental toughness, discipline, and leadership," he said. "We are confident that the skills and values they have acquired here will serve them well in their future endeavors, both in sports and in life."The camp's activities were carefully planned and executed, with a detailed day-wise activity program provided to the team. A specially designed uniform was issued to all players and coaches upon arrival at INA.

The Indian women's hockey team's failure to qualify for the Paris Olympics has left a profound impact on captain Savita Punia. The team's fourth-place finish in Tokyo just three years ago had raised hopes, but the recent setback has shattered those dreams.Punia, known as the "Great Wall" of Indian hockey, has been grappling with the disappointment. "Losing the Olympic qualifiers is such a bad moment that we will probably not be able to forget our entire life," she said. "I haven't been able to get over it yet."In the aftermath of the qualifiers, Punia sought solace in yoga and meditation. She also returned to the field quickly, competing in the FIH Pro League and the ongoing Nationals in Pune. "The good thing about sports is that you have to forget the past and move forward very quickly," she explained.Despite her efforts to move on, Punia admits that the pain of missing out on the Olympics lingers. "We were confident and well-prepared, but you cannot predict anything in sports," she said. "We all did our best and our preparation was very good. It's a lot about luck also."Punia's husband has been a source of support during this difficult time. "He said that we could not change what happened but can look ahead and play as long as you want to play," she said.The Indian team will now focus on the upcoming Pro League matches in Belgium in May-June. Punia believes that a new core group will emerge after the Nationals, and she is prepared for the changes. "Now a new core group will be formed and some new players will also come," she said. "The focus will be on fitness and drag flicks."Despite the disappointment of missing out on the Olympics, Punia remains committed to hockey. "Hockey is my passion and the more I stay away from the field, the more it will bother me," she said.