Goalkeeper Savita Punia on 21 September 2026 became the most-capped player in the history of Indian women's hockey, surpassing the previous record of 320 senior international appearances held by former striker Vandana Katariya. The milestone was reached during India's Pool B fixture against Indonesia at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games in Japan, and Hockey India responded swiftly by announcing a cash reward of ₹10 lakh for the 36-year-old.

The record in numbers

Savita had equalled Vandana's mark of 320 caps on 20 September 2026 during India's emphatic 19-0 opening win over Uzbekistan at the same Asian Games. One match later, she crossed it. Her senior international career began in 2009 — the same debut year as Vandana — and now spans three Olympic Games, two Asian Games campaigns, the Commonwealth Games, and multiple Asian Champions Trophy and FIH Pro League seasons. She had earlier passed the 300-cap barrier in February 2025 against the Netherlands in the FIH Hockey Pro League, becoming only the second Indian woman — after Vandana — and only the second Indian goalkeeper — after PR Sreejesh — to reach that landmark.

'The Wall of India' — a career built on longevity

Widely nicknamed 'The Wall of India' for her reflexes in open play and composure in penalty shoot-outs, Savita evolved from a promising young shot-stopper into the backbone and long-serving captain of the national team before the current skipper, Salima Tete, took over. Her consistency across formats and tournament cycles is the defining thread of her career — a career that, by any measure, has redefined the ceiling for Indian women's hockey.

What Savita said after the milestone

Speaking after the match, Savita said, 'I want to start by saying thank you — to my family, my coaches, my teammates and every single person who has stood behind me since I was a young girl learning to save my first penalty corner. Honestly, I never thought I would reach this milestone.'

She added: 'When I started, I was just trying to earn my place in the team and make my family proud. This record doesn't belong to me alone — it belongs to everyone who has played alongside me, and to Vandana too, because she set the bar and pushed all of us to reach higher. My biggest hope now is that the younger generation coming up sees this and believes it's possible for them too.'

Hockey India's tribute and the record it surpassed

Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey called the achievement 'a testament to two decades of discipline and quiet leadership,' adding that the milestone was 'thoroughly deserved.' Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh described Savita's journey as 'an inspiration for every young goalkeeper dreaming of wearing the India jersey.'

The record Savita eclipsed was set by Vandana Katariya — India's all-time leading goal-scorer — who debuted alongside Savita in 2009 and retired in April 2025 after 320 caps and 158 goals. Vandana's 16-year career included a historic hat-trick at the Tokyo Olympics and the Padma Shri.

What's next — Asian Games and Olympic qualification

India's women's hockey team continues its campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, which doubles as a direct qualification pathway for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Savita, still playing and still saving, will be central to that pursuit.