Ranchi: After guiding SG Pipers to the Women’s Hockey India League 2025-26 title, Player of the Tournament and team captain Navneet Kaur reflected on the team’s calmness during the shootout, their resilience in the final, and their season-long turnaround from last place in the previous edition to champions this year.
In the final, SG Pipers beat Bengal Tigers 3-2 in the shootout after a 1-1 draw in regulation time. SG Pipers had lost to Bengal Tigers in shootouts twice this season, but Navneet said the team focused solely on its strategy during critical moments.
“We had already decided how we would approach it. Though we had lost the shootout to them before, we made it a point not to keep it in mind. Bansari Solanki had also prepared very well, so she had an idea of how their players would attack.”
On their late comeback, Navneet said the group’s belief never wavered. “We got a lot of chances and created several opportunities in the first half. We did not want to give up till the last minute. We had already scored late goals like this during the season. The team believed that if we kept putting in effort and working hard till the last minute, we would get the goal. We had faith and trust in each other and believed that we would definitely score.”
Reflecting on the season, Navneet emphasised that maintaining consistency and clarity was essential. “Throughout the tournament, we did what we had decided from the first day. From the camp and the auction itself, we were clear about how we wanted this team to be and how we wanted to work.”
The 29-year-old, who finished as SG Pipers’ highest scorer with four goals, added, “Last year, we felt bad about finishing last. But as soon as that season ended, we started planning for the next year. We wanted a better team, more options and the right changes. I think that planning showed in the way we performed this season.”
For her performances, Navneet bagged the Player of the Tournament award and received Rs 20 lakh as prize money.
(IANS)
