Indian Women's Hockey Team captain Salima Tete on 16 May declared that her squad is fully prepared to meet the challenge of a high-intensity tour of Australia, asserting that preparations at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Bengaluru have been relentless. The team departs with momentum built from its recent exposure tour to Argentina and a clear eye on the bigger tournaments ahead.

What Tete Said About the Tour

The skipper expressed genuine excitement about facing one of the world's premier hockey nations. 'The Australian team is a really strong opponent, which will ensure high-quality contests. We are very excited to play against Australia, and we will make sure that we play our best hockey. A big thanks to the coach, who has been working hard with us,' Tete said.

She also underscored the importance of nurturing emerging talent within the setup. 'We are improving every day, which is great. Young players are also being given opportunities, and they are doing really well. We need to keep backing them to ensure they continue to perform,' she added.

Fitness at the Core of Camp Preparations

Tete highlighted that physical conditioning is the cornerstone of the team's current training block at SAI Bengaluru. 'Everybody is working really hard on fitness. As everybody knows, fitness is important to beat any team,' she said. 'Fitness is important for every player, and even the junior team is working hard to maintain it. Our fitness can help ensure better performances. We played well in the World Cup qualifiers, but we can definitely improve further, especially with the team making a comeback. Therefore, fitness is extremely important for us, and preparations are going strong at SAI Bengaluru,' Tete said.

Lessons Drawn From Argentina Tour

The tour to Argentina in April served as more than a competitive outing — it was a structured assessment of squad depth and a proving ground for next-generation players integrating into the senior setup. 'The entire team performed very well in Argentina. Being able to compete against such a top-tier team is a huge achievement for us. It has played a crucial role in our preparation for the upcoming Australia tour, Nations Cup, World Cup, and Asian Games,' Tete said.

She added that the team is determined to carry that form forward. 'We want to continue the momentum built in Argentina and play the same kind of hockey in Australia as well. We want to stay disciplined, focus on our game plan, and follow our coach's instructions. Every individual needs to work on their strengths and weaknesses to help us perform well as a team. Of course, there is pressure, but we are well prepared to handle it,' she said.

Schedule and Broader Stakes

The Indian Women's Hockey Team will tour Australia from 21 May to 3 June, playing four matches against the host nation at the Perth Hockey Stadium between 26 and 30 May. The tour is positioned as a critical preparatory phase ahead of the FIH Hockey Women's Nations Cup in Auckland, New Zealand, as well as the World Cup and the Asian Games. A strong showing in Perth would give the squad both tactical clarity and a confidence boost heading into those marquee events.