Indian women's hockey team carrying World Cup mindset into Asian Games, says Deepika

KOLKATA: The night India’s Women’s Hockey World Cup dream ended in Amstelveen, Netherlands, sleep was hard to come by.Disappointment lingered in the dressing room, but according to drag-flicker Deepika Sehrawat, it was what happened next that revealed the character of this young Indian side. Four days later after suffering the heartbreak of missing out on the semifinals, the players regrouped, rallied around each other and signed off their campaign with a 3-1 victory over Germany, a response she believes holds the key to India’s Asian Games challenge.“My favourite memory is actually the last match,” Deepika told TOI from the team’s training base in Japan. “We had already gone out and everyone was disappointed after the match against Australia. Many of us probably didn’t sleep that night. But then everybody came together, focused on the next game and gave their best.”That ability to move on quickly from setbacks has become a defining trait of a squad that exceeded expectations at the World Cup, finishing fifth for its best result in 52 years.For Deepika, however, the biggest takeaway was neither tactical nor technical. “Many of us were playing our first World Cup, but we never felt like first-timers,” she said. “Everyone was supporting and motivating each other. The coaches also ensured there was no unnecessary pressure.”That same approach is guiding India’s preparations for the Asian Games, where a gold medal would secure direct qualification for Los Angeles Olympics, something they missed out on at the previous edition after losing to China in semifinals.China, the silver medallists at Paris Olympics, meanwhile, are once again expected to be among India’s toughest rivals, but Deepika insisted the squad is not looking too far ahead.“We had a team meeting and the message was very clear: take it one match at a time,” she said. “If we start thinking about a final before the tournament has even started, anything can happen. We want to keep the same mindset that we had at the World Cup.”The coaching staff has also used the period since the World Cup to address one of India’s biggest shortcomings — converting chances into goals. India’s defence stood firm against strong opponents, including England and Australia, but scoring remained an issue. Deepika said the team has since worked extensively on improving its attacking structure.“We weren’t creating enough chances and penalty corners,” she said. “A lot of work has gone into building attacks better, moving the ball from defence into the opposition half and making better decisions inside the circle.”For Deepika personally, preparations have included regular work with drag-flicking coach Taeke Taekema, an area where she shares responsibility with Navneet and the rest of the penalty-corner unit. “We’ve studied goalkeepers and opposition teams, and the coaches have been giving us inputs about areas we can target,” she said.The team has also carried over some of the rituals that became synonymous with its World Cup campaign, including the red-and-yellow strings worn by players throughout the tournament. “We’ve continued with it,” Deepika said. “What we started at the World Cup isn’t finished yet.”For a young squad preparing for one of the biggest tournaments of its careers, that sentiment perhaps captures the mood best. The World Cup journey may be over, but the belief it generated remains very much alive as India chase Asian Games gold and an Olympic berth.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.