Indian hockey players are heading Down Under for a Hockey One stint

Kanika Siwach (left) and Udita 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 take part in Australia’s Hockey One league to be held in October and November.So far, four Indian players have officially announced their participation, all of whom will represent the Melbourne Cobras franchise. The women’s contingent consists of Kanika Siwach and Udita, while Gurjant Singh and Mohammed Raheel Mouseen will feature in the men’s team. The club also attracted former Indian stars Rupinder Pal Singh and Rani Rampal as ambassadors.The Cobras actively promote the Indian community in Australia and have built a team that combines 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 leaving a familiar home.“I wanted to get out of my comfort zone. After returning home, I was with the same players for five or six years. I didn’t know anyone here. I had to adapt to a new culture, new teammates and a completely different environment. I wanted to test myself, and that’s why I came.”Kanika, who played at the Junior World Cup last year and scored five goals, has already spent over a month in Australia and is currently playing in the Women’s Premier League for Mentone Hockey Club.Reflecting on her experience so far, she said: “Australian hockey is very different to Indian hockey. It’s a lot more physical and faster. They also put a huge emphasis on teamwork. In India we focus a lot on developing individual skills, whereas here everything is more structured and team-based.”Udita, who has represented India in 138 internationals and last played for the national team in the Women’s World Cup qualifiers in Hyderabad this year, is equally excited about the opportunity.“Our hockey Indian league is relatively short, lasting about 20 to 25 days, while the Australian league lasts almost two months. This means we will be immersed in hockey for much longer and will be able to observe their training habits, routines and overall approach.”Former India fan Rupinder Pal Singh believes this stint will be invaluable for the Indian players given the limited opportunities they will get in overseas leagues.“Indian players don’t often get the opportunity to play in international leagues, so this is a valuable opportunity,” said the former India player. “It will allow our players to experience Australian hockey culture first-hand, watch them prepare and learn from their training methods.”Rupinder believes this exposure could prove invaluable as Indian players return home with fresh ideas, different perspectives and a better understanding of one of the strongest hockey systems in the world.