The Indian junior women’s hockey team emerged as the champions of the Women’s Junior Asia Cup 2023 held at Kakamigahara, Gifu Prefecture, Japan, defeating Korea by a score of 2-1 in an enthralling final. While Annu (22′) and Neelam (41′) scored a goal each for India, it was the team’s collective effort that eventually secured their triumphant victory in this crucial encounter.
“I feel great, it is impossible to express in words our feelings and how we feel. The whole country has shown us so much love and we are overwhelmed by it. It is good to know that people of our country recognize us. We have been and we are proud,” said Neelam on the win. Junior Asia Cup,
She gave credit to her team coach Janke Schoepmann who helped the girls not take any pressure and bring out the best in terms of quality of their game.
“The coach was very calm about it. He said we just play hockey and we can definitely win. It was not that Korea is not a good or easy team to beat, but the coach was very clear with his words. He told us to take it there is no pressure as you have already secured silver and gold medal is for you. The coach said you can be the first team from India to do this so why take pressure.”
Two goals were scored by India to secure the gold and when Neelam was asked about the joy of scoring one, she said, “If you have seen the video of that game….(laughs), every Every time I scored a goal in the tournament and not just in the final I was jumping with so much joy that teammates used to pacify me every time. I was happy to score for my team but it was in my head I was never concerned that I scored, for me it was always that my team scored and we got another goal.”
“The focus is now on the World Cup. We are preparing big and we want to bring home medals from the main tournament as well. It is a step-by-step process for me and I don’t want to take anything for granted. Want to work hard and hone my skills.”
Neelam told all this during an online conversation with an English journalist of Geneuse. The 20-year-old is happy with the success his team has achieved in the Junior Asia Cup but is keen to make a mark in the future by creating more such historic moments for his country.