As the Indian Women’s Hockey Team intensifies preparations for the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup Qualifier Hyderabad Telangana 2026, senior forward Navneet Kaur has offered a clear assessment of how the modern game is evolving and how she is adapting with it.
“In today’s hockey, attacking alone is not enough,” Navneet said during the ongoing national camp in Bengaluru. “As a striker, defensive skills are also very important. I am focusing on tackling and applying pressure without the ball, because winning the ball back is a big advantage for the team.” At 30, Navneet represents the experienced core of a squad entering a crucial competitive phase. The World Cup Qualifier, scheduled to be held in Hyderabad from March 8 to 14, will determine three spots for the 2026 Women’s FIH Hockey World Cup. For India, the objective is unambiguous.
“Our goal is very clear. We want to qualify for the World Cup and give our best performance in the qualifiers,” she stated.
The Modern Forward: Two-Way Responsibility
Navneet’s comments reflect a broader tactical shift in international hockey. The days when forwards operated primarily in advanced zones are long gone. High pressing systems, rapid counter-transitions and structured defensive blocks demand full-team engagement without the ball. For India’s attacking unit, this translates into structured pressing triggers, disciplined channel marking and recovery runs responsibilities traditionally associated with midfielders. Navneet’s focus on defensive contribution underscores how seriously the squad is approaching these tactical demands.
Winning possession in advanced areas reduces defensive load and creates immediate scoring opportunities. In tightly contested tournaments like World Cup qualifiers, such margins often determine outcomes.
The Bengaluru camp has taken on added significance as it marks a fresh phase under Head Coach Sjoerd Marijne. Having returned to guide the women’s program, Marijne brings familiarity alongside renewed expectations.
“The camp is going well. We have a new coach and a strong core group, and the quality of training has been very good. Everyone is focused, and we are preparing well for the upcoming competition,” Navneet explained.
She highlighted Marijne’s communication style as a defining feature of the current setup.
“He has a very direct way of communicating. He tells us clearly what he expects from us, what we need to improve, and what kind of performance he wants on the pitch. There is no confusion, and that helps us work better as a team.”
Clarity of role is central to high-performance environments. Tactical ambiguity often leads to hesitation; Marijne’s approach appears designed to eliminate that. Several senior players, including Navneet, have previously worked under him — an advantage that accelerates tactical integration.
“He understands how Indian players play, and we also know what he expects from us. That mutual understanding helps us move forward faster as a team,” she added.
League Exposure and Confidence Boost
Navneet recently captained SG Pipers to the Women’s Hero Hockey India League title an experience she believes has had a tangible impact on the national pool.
“After playing in the Hero Hockey India League alongside foreign players, the confidence level is different among the younger players. The learning from that exposure is clearly visible when players come back into the national camp,” she noted.
The league environment exposes players to varied tactical systems, different physical intensities and international styles of play. For emerging players, it accelerates learning curves. For seniors like Navneet, it reinforces leadership responsibilities. This blend of domestic competition and national camp preparation creates a layered developmental structure one that India hopes will translate into performance stability in Hyderabad.
A Shift in Mindset
Perhaps the most revealing aspect of Navneet’s reflections is her emphasis on mentality.
“There is a very positive mindset in the camp. Players want to try new things. Even if something does not work immediately, we continue to push ourselves and keep learning.” This willingness to experiment suggests a squad comfortable with growth rather than constrained by fear of error. In high-stakes qualifiers, adaptability is as critical as structure.
India’s recent trajectory in women’s hockey has been built on incremental progress — tactical discipline, improved fitness metrics, and deeper bench strength. The upcoming qualifier will test not just technical execution but mental resilience.
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With the qualifier just weeks away, the focus now sharpens toward execution. Playing at home presents both opportunity and pressure. Hyderabad’s conditions, crowd energy and familiarity can be leveraged but only if preparation aligns with performance.
Navneet’s words encapsulate the team’s current philosophy: evolve with the game, commit fully in all phases, and approach qualification with clarity. Modern hockey, as she succinctly puts it, demands complete players. For India, the path to the 2026 Women’s FIH Hockey World Cup will require exactly that.
