Following a heartbreaking exit from World Cup semifinal contention, Indian hockey midfielder Neha and youngster Sunelita Toppo reflect on their campaign while shifting focus to the upcoming Asian Games.
India's dream of reaching the hockey World Cup semifinals came to an end following a goalless draw against Australia in Pool E of the second round, pushing the team to third spot in the group. Despite securing a top-six finish, the squad was left devastated after narrowly missing out on a medal opportunity.
For 32-year-old senior midfielder Neha, who was participating in her third World Cup, the result brought back painful memories of previous setbacks, including the bronze medal match loss at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the semifinal defeat to Australia at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Neha noted that the team was very sad and crying after missing the chance to fight for a medal, adding that while people say they created history, 'a medal is a medal, so that sadness will always be there.'
Nineteen-year-old midfielder Sunelita Toppo, playing in her maiden World Cup, revealed she had a sleepless night after the exit. She shared that while there is high pressure in the World Cup compared to normal tournaments, learning to cope with it alongside senior players will serve her well in the future.
Neha lauded the current squad composition as 'the best combination,' featuring five seniors in their third World Cup alongside 11 tournament debutants, noting that the entire team played on equal footing throughout.
India will now face Germany on Thursday in a classification match targeting a rare fifth-place finish. The team hopes to carry that momentum into next month's Asian Games, where India is seeking its first gold medal in 48 years. Neha remains confident about their target, stating that no matter what happens, the team will give their best and win the gold medal.
Reporting sourced from The Hindu Sport. Photo courtesy The Hindu Sport.