HIL 2024-25: Soorma Hockey Club Kicks Off Women's Campaign Against Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers
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Ranchi, Jan 12 (NationPress) Soorma Hockey Club is ready to commence their journey in the eagerly awaited Women’s Hockey India League at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Astroturf Stadium in Ranchi this Monday. Their inaugural match will be against the Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers, a team boasting significant strength on paper.
Soorma has also assembled a powerful squad, with Indian stalwart Savita taking the lead in goal as co-captain alongside the nimble midfielder Salima Tete. They have also enlisted the talents of international stars such as Maria Verschoor, Charlotte Stapenhorst, Charlotte Englebert, and Penny Squibb.
“We kicked off our camp in Chandigarh on December 27, where Indian players joined, followed by overseas players on January 2. The camp has been beneficial for our preparation, enabling players to develop connections over the past two weeks. It's a fantastic opportunity for young Indian players to learn from some of the best athletes globally,” remarked head coach Jude Menezes.
“Having arrived in Ranchi a couple of days ago, we held a training session prior to our first match and are eager to get started. Our focus in the opening game against Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers will be on our performance; we aim to execute our strengths, and as we gather more insights into other teams' playstyle, we will analyze them in depth,” he added.
Savita, the former captain of the Indian women’s team, has been eagerly anticipating the commencement of the HIL for women. She expressed her excitement, stating, “As a senior player, I have waited a long time for a Women’s HIL. The initiation of the men’s league brought about a significant positive shift in their mindset, with many crediting HIL for their development and for uncovering promising young talents. We believe that training alongside players from top hockey nations, like the Netherlands, will provide us invaluable insights into their training and gameplay.”
“India is brimming with talent, and HIL serves as the ideal platform for nurturing it and providing financial support to players. It will demonstrate to Indian parents that there is a viable future in the sport. There are numerous positive aspects to anticipate from this league,” she added.
The Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers feature an impressive lineup, with Udita, the league's costliest player, captaining the team. The highly experienced forward Vandana Katariya leads their attack, supported by international stars like Grace O’Hanlon, Jennifer Rizzo, Grace Stewart, Roisin Upton, and Kathryn Mullan, along with promising young talents such as Hannah Cotter, Fiona Crackles, Beauty Dung Dung, and Jyothi Edula.
“There’s no pressure; we trust our team and have discussed our goal of delivering a strong performance while enjoying our time on the field. There are young Indian and foreign players in the Shrachi Rarh Bengal Warriors team that we may not be familiar with, making it slightly challenging as we don’t know what to expect from them. However, we have complete confidence in our training and performance to kick off the league successfully,” Savita concluded.
