Indian hockey players head Down Under for Hockey One stint | Hockey News
Kolkata: Even as the Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams prepare for the upcoming World Cup and Asian Games, a group of players outside the current national set-up have signed up to play in Australia’s Hockey One league, scheduled to be held in October and November.So far, four Indian players have officially announced their participation, all of them are set to represent the Melbourne Cobras franchise. The women’s contingent includes Kanika Siwach and Udita, while Gurjant Singh and Mohammed Raheel Mouseen will join the men’s team. The club has also roped in former India stars Rupinder Pal Singh and Rani Rampal as ambassadors.The Cobras actively promote the Indian community in Australia and have built a squad that mixes Indian and Australian talent.Talking about her decision, Kanika, daughter of former Indian captain and coach Pritam Siwach, said she wanted to challenge herself by moving away from the familiarity of home.“I want to get out of my comfort zone. At home, I’ve been with the same players for five or six years. Here, I don’t know anyone. I have to adapt to a new culture, new teammates and a completely different environment. I want to test myself, and that’s why I came.”Kanika, who played in the junior World Cup last year and scored five goals, has spent more than a month in Australia and is currently playing in the Women’s Premier League for Mentone Hockey Club.Reflecting on the experience so far, he said, “Australian hockey is very different from Indian hockey. It’s more physical and fast. They also put a lot of emphasis on teamwork. In India, we focus a lot on developing individual skills, while here everything is more structured and team-oriented.”Udita, who has represented India in 138 internationals and last played for the national team in the Women’s World Cup Qualifiers in Hyderabad earlier this year, is equally excited about the opportunity.“Our Hockey India League is relatively short, lasting about 20 to 25 days, while the Australian league runs for almost two months. That means we get to immerse ourselves in hockey longer and observe their training habits, routines and general approach.”Former Indian drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh believes the stint will be invaluable for Indian players, given the limited opportunities they get to feature in leagues abroad.“Indian players don’t often get a chance to play in international leagues, so this is a great opportunity,” said the former India player. “It allows our players to experience Australian hockey culture first hand, observe how they prepare, and learn from their training methods.”This exposure, Rupinder believes, could prove invaluable as Indian players return home with new ideas, different perspectives and a better understanding of one of the strongest hockey systems in the world.
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