Can India’s Women’s Hockey Team Outshine Thailand in the Asia Cup?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- India's women's hockey team is determined to secure victory against Thailand.
- Captain Salima Tete emphasizes the importance of treating every opponent seriously.
- The team aims to test their strategies before facing Japan.
- India has a strong historical record against Thailand.
- With a mix of youth and experience, the team is optimistic about their performance.
Hangzhou, Sep 4 (NationPress) The Indian women's hockey team is poised to challenge Thailand as they embark on their Women's Asia Cup 2025 campaign on September 5.
Having last encountered Thailand in the Women's Asian Champions Trophy 2024 in November, India aims to maintain their winning momentum and secure a significant victory. The teams have clashed seven times previously, with India triumphing in all encounters, having conceded only 1 goal across those matches.
Regarding the upcoming match, Indian captain Salima Tete remarked, “Despite Thailand's lower rank in the FIH Rankings, we regard every opponent seriously and will give our all in each match. This is our inaugural match of the Asia Cup 2025, and it will set the tone for our future games. We intend to evaluate our strength and strategies while achieving a comfortable win against them before facing Japan the following day.”
India, along with Japan, Thailand, and Singapore, is placed in Pool B and will meet Thailand at 12 pm IST on Friday. The objective is to lead their pool and advance to the Super 4, inching closer to claiming the trophy.
Discussing the forthcoming matches, Harendra Singh, the chief coach of the Indian women’s hockey team, expressed, “Our squad combines youthful talent with experienced players, and although we've encountered a few injury challenges, I remain optimistic about our performance. The match against Thailand will serve as a benchmark to assess our team’s strength and provide insights into areas for improvement before taking on Japan.”
The Indian women's hockey team has celebrated victory in the Women's Asia Cup twice, first in 2004 and again in 2017. In the last tournament, India secured a third-place finish.