What Our Women Hockey Stars Can Teach Us
Tokyo Olympics 2020 marks India’s best performance at the Summer Olympics with the highest tally of 7 medals, three of them won by women. I was impressed by our women athletes, notably silver medallist Mirabai Chanu and double Olympic medallist P.V. Sindhu. But what inspired me the most was our women’s hockey team who finished fourth and qualified for the semi-finals, a first for India in Olympics history. The dazzling performance of our heroic women enthused a nation and has inspired the next generation of young girls to become world beaters.
At the outset, let me admit that I have never followed women’s hockey before, except probably watching the film Chak De! India, based on the gold medal-winning run of the Indian women’s hockey team at the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games. In my defence, after 1980, the women’s hockey team did not qualify for the Summer Olympics till Rio 2016, where they finished 12th in a field of 12 teams. However, this time, I was hooked by the early exploits of the team and remained so till the game-ending whistle in the bronze-medal playoff match against Great Britain.
As I reflect on the achievements of our women hockey stars, I take away a few lessons. First, resilience and persistence can trump talent and skill. India had a forgettable start to its hockey campaign in Tokyo with back-to-back losses against the Netherlands, Germany and Great Britain. Under the threat of departure following three consecutive defeats, the pressure was on. The team rose to the challenge and fought back with fortitude, winning back-to-back games against Ireland and South Africa. The crowning glory of beating the champion Australia followed, probably the biggest upset of Tokyo 2020. Even in the semi-final and bronze-medal match, the team competed till the last second and on a different day, the team could have won the bronze medal or even competed for the gold medal against the Netherlands.
Second, teamwork trumps the presence of individual superstars. The women’s team played as a cohesive unit under the talismanic captain Rani Rampal. Reflecting the true regional and ethnic diversity of India, the team worked as one to beat other teams. There were several heroes across the age spectrum and several young players proving their mettle on the global stage, notably Salima Tete and Udita Duhan. At different times in the tournament, players made their mark, notably in the crucial South Africa game where Vandana Katariya scored thrice to seal the win, becoming the only Indian woman player to score an Olympic hattrick.
Third, intense preparation with a focus on fitness and agility pays off. Sjoerd Marijne, the head coach along with the strength and conditioning coach, Wayne Lombard, worked hard to get the team’s fitness levels up to international standards. Intense conditioning and training to enhance the team’s agility paid off. The Indian team was able to compete vigorously till the last moments of the hockey games. Their endurance and stamina lasted across the eight matches played under hot and humid conditions. This was particularly evident when India, with a brave defensive effort, held onto a narrow 1-0 advantage in the quarterfinal against the world no. 4 Australian team, known to be fittest women’s hockey team in the world.
Fourth, I came to believe that Nari Shakti is a real thing. Enough has been written about the back-stories of these 16 women, several of whom have risen from impoverished backgrounds and overcome discrimination and personal challenges (including losing of a parent three months before the Olympics). I think of the growth, development and progress we can achieve as a nation if we harness the power of our most untapped resource, our women, giving them the means and support to triumph in all walks of life.
I hope that the performance of our women athletes has convinced our decision-makers to do much more to encourage the participation of women in all parts of the economy and society. As with our hockey stars, a small investment in women will pay rich dividends for our young democracy.
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