Salima Tete confident as India Women’s Hockey Team prepares for crucial Australia tour

“Everybody is working really hard on fitness. As everybody knows, fitness is important to beat any team,” Tete said.

Hyderabad: As the Indian women’s hockey team prepares for its upcoming tour of Australia, captain Salima Tete emphasized that the squad is leaving no stone unturned at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Bengaluru.

Following a modest outing in Argentina, Tete expressed confidence in the team’s preparation and its ability to handle pressure, viewing the upcoming matches against Australia as a crucial stepping stone.

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Expressing excitement for the tour, the skipper, in a press conference facilitated by Sports Authority of India, noted that it can strengthen the team’s preparations for high-stakes tournaments in the coming months, including the World Cup and the Asian Games.

“The Australian team is a really strong opponent, which will ensure high-quality contests. We are very excited to play against Australia, and we will make sure that we play our best hockey. A big thanks to the coach, who has been working hard with us,” Salima said.

“Everybody is working really hard on fitness. As everybody knows, fitness is important to beat any team,” Tete said.

“Fitness is important for every player, and even the junior team is working hard to maintain it. Our fitness can help ensure better performances. We played well in the World Cup qualifiers, but we can definitely improve further, especially with the team making a comeback. Therefore, fitness is extremely important for us, and preparations are going strong at SAI Bengaluru.”

“The entire team performed very well in Argentina. Being able to compete against such a top-tier team is a huge achievement for us. It has played a crucial role in our preparation for the upcoming Australia tour, Nations Cup, World Cup, and Asian Games. Our current focus is the Australia tour, and we want to give our best so that it boosts our confidence heading into the next tournament.”

“Every individual needs to work on their strengths and weaknesses to help us perform well as a team. Of course, there is pressure, but we are well prepared to handle it,” she concluded.

The Australian tour will be from May 21 to June 3 as a crucial preparatory phase for the upcoming FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup in Auckland, New Zealand. The team is scheduled to play four matches against Australia at the Perth Hockey Stadium between May 26 to 30.