Savita Punia-led India women’s hockey team emerged victorious for the first time on Sunday since 2016 in the Asian Champions Trophy held in Ranchi. Punia’s exceptional performance as a goalkeeper was instrumental in India’s win against Japan, as she made multiple saves and a crucial penalty stroke in the final quarter. Sangita Kumari, Neha, Lalremsiami, and Vandana Katariya also scored goals which helped India defeat Japan. The team finished the tournament with an impressive record of seven wins in seven matches.
Savita Punia’s Stellar Performance
Savita Punia’s performance on Sunday was a testament to the hard work and training she had put in, especially under the guidance of head coach Janneke Schopman. Her quick reflexes and ability to make back-to-back saves were pivotal in keeping Japan at bay.
The final quarter of the match was particularly dramatic. After India extended their lead with a goal from Neha, Savita saved a penalty stroke from Japan. This was followed by a goal from Lalremsiami, and India ended the match with a convincing victory.
The win was a significant achievement for the Indian team, bouncing back from a defeat in the semifinal against China at the Asian Games. It also marked a reversal of their previous encounter with Japan in Ranchi, which Japan had won 2-1.
A look at Savita Punia’s journey
Punia was born on July 11, 1990, in Sirsa district in Haryana. Her journey in the world of hockey started when she was encouraged by her grandfather Mahinder Singh to take up the sport, an IE report said. She joined the Sports Authority of India (SAI) center at Hisar and was coached by Sunder Singh Kharab and Azad Singh Malik. Her international debut came in 2008 during a four-nation event in the Netherlands and Germany. Since then, she has been a part of more than 100 games at the international level.
Punia’s performance has been instrumental in many of India’s victories. She was also a part of the bronze-winning team at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. In the Asia Cup of 2018, she made an astonishing save against China in the final, earning herself the goalkeeper of the tournament award. Her outstanding performance also helped the women’s Indian team beat Chile in the final match of the Women’s Hockey World League Round 2.