Sydney/ New Delhi: Salima Tete, captain of the India women’s national field hockey team, has expressed confidence in her team’s preparations and ability to handle pressure ahead of the upcoming Australia tour, describing the series as an important step towards major international tournaments including the Women’s Hockey World Cup and the Asian Games.
The Indian women’s team, currently training intensively at the Sports Authority of India centre in Bengaluru, will tour Australia from May 21 to June 3 as part of preparations for the upcoming FIH Women’s Nations Cup in Auckland.
India is scheduled to play four matches against the Australian team at Perth Hockey Stadium between May 26 and 30.
Speaking about the preparations, Salima Tete said the team is leaving no stone unturned in training and is looking forward to facing a strong Australian side.
She noted that playing against top international teams would help India strengthen its preparations for major events in the coming months. According to the Indian captain, the team is focused on maintaining discipline, following tactical plans and continuously improving its performance under the guidance of the coaching staff.
Salima also highlighted the encouraging progress of young players in the squad, saying that emerging talent is being given opportunities and is responding positively at the senior level. She stressed the importance of supporting younger players to ensure consistency and long-term growth within the team.
Reflecting on the recent Argentina tour, the midfielder said the experience helped the team evaluate its performance and integrate new players into the senior setup. Competing against world-class opponents, she added, has boosted the team’s confidence and provided valuable exposure ahead of future tournaments.
On the issue of pressure, Salima said the squad is mentally prepared to face challenging situations and remains determined to give its best performance in Australia.
Fitness, she emphasised, remains a major focus area for the team during the ongoing training camp in Bengaluru.
“Every player understands that fitness is extremely important to beat strong teams. Our fitness levels can define how well we perform on the field,” she said, adding that the players are working equally hard on improving both their strengths and weaknesses.
The Indian captain further stated that the team hopes to carry forward the momentum gained from recent performances and use the Australia tour to build confidence for upcoming international competitions.
