India deserved this historic Asian Games gold: women’s hockey captain Salima Tete

Indian women’s hockey captain Salima Tete said the team never stopped believing they could win gold at the Asian Games even when a mighty China stood between them and the title.

India maintained a 1-0 lead against the defending champions in the final in Japan on Sunday. ending the 44-year wait for women’s hockey gold at the Asian Games. The win also secured India’s place at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“We deserve this win. This time we had full confidence in our team and players that we will definitely win the gold, although China was a very good team. To defend that one goal and win the gold for our country is a proud moment for us,” Tete told PTI Videos.

The final was decided by a single goal, but India’s task was far from simple. China kept up the pressure and forced the Indian defense to stay alert until the final whistle.

For Tete and her teammates, the victory was even more special when they held on to that lead.

The four members of the gold team, Tete, Beauty Dungdung, Deepika Soreng and Nikki Pradhan, are from Jharkhand. Tete, Dungdung and Soreng are from Simdega while Pradhan is from Khunti.

The four players returned to a warm welcome at the Ranchi airport where supporters, coaches and young hockey players gathered to celebrate their success. The celebrations were accompanied by the beating of traditional Mandar drums.

Soreng said the team had been working towards this moment for a long time and was especially happy to secure an Olympic spot along with the gold medal.

“We worked very hard to win gold at the Asian Games. We have been preparing for a long time to achieve this remarkable victory. We feel very proud. It was not easy for us to save a single goal against a team like China, but we did it,” she said.

For Pradhan, this belief was partly based on the experience India had already had on the Olympic stage.

Recalling how India fended off Australia at the Tokyo Olympics, she said the team relied on a similar defensive effort to keep China at bay.

“We knew the team we were playing against was very good, and just like we held off the Australian team at the Tokyo Olympics, we held a one-goal lead against China this time. Now we have qualified for the upcoming Olympics. We will prepare for that and work on our weaknesses,” she said.

After a reception at the airport, the four players met Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren at his residence.

“Our amazing daughters of Jharkhand… You have done wonders,” Soren said in a post on social media.

The celebrations also brought a lot of emotions to the families who watched the players’ journeys from close quarters.

Pradhan’s mother Jitan Devi recalled that the family initially knew little about hockey and even tried to stop her daughter from playing.

“When she started playing hockey, we didn’t know about this game. We used to stop her but Master Dashrath kept encouraging her in this sport and as a result she has reached this level today. We are very proud of her now,” she said.

Tete’s father, Sulakshan Tete, said his daughter’s success was the result of years of hard work and struggle.

“I am very happy as she is bringing glory to her state and country. She won the gold medal after a long struggle. The victory of the Indian women’s team is a matter of pride for the entire country, Jharkhand and of course for the family,” he said.

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