Kolkata: Even as the Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams prepare for the upcoming World Cup and the Asian Games, a group of players outside the current national set-up has signed up to play in Australia’s Hockey One league, scheduled to be held in Oct and Nov.So far, four Indian players have officially announced their participation, all of them set to represent Melbourne Cobras franchise. The women’s contingent comprises Kanika Siwach and Udita, while Gurjant Singh and Mohammed Raheel Mouseen will feature in the men’s team. The club has also roped in former India stars Rupinder Pal Singh and Rani Rampal as ambassadors.The Cobras have been actively promoting the Indian community in Australia and have built a squad that blends Indian and Australian talent.Speaking about her decision, Kanika, daughter of former India captain and coach Pritam Siwach, said she wanted to challenge herself by stepping away from the familiarity of home.“I wanted to step out of my comfort zone. Back home, I had been with the same players for five or six years. Here, I didn’t know anyone. I had to adapt to a new culture, new teammates and a completely different environment. I wanted to test myself, and that’s why I came.”Kanika, who played in the junior World Cup last year and scored five goals, has already spent more than a month in Australia and is currently playing in the Women’s Premier League for Mentone Hockey Club.Reflecting on the experience so far, she said, “Australian hockey is very different from Indian hockey. It’s much more physical and fast-paced. They also place a huge emphasis on teamwork. In India, we focus a lot on developing individual skills, whereas here everything is more structured and team-oriented.”Udita, who has represented India in 138 internationals and last played for the national team in the Women’s World Cup Qualifiers in Hyderabad earlier this year, is equally excited about the opportunity.“Our Hockey India League is relatively short, lasting about 20 to 25 days, whereas the Australian league runs for nearly two months. That means we’ll be immersed in hockey for much longer and get to observe their training habits, routines and overall approach.”Former India drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh believes the stint will be invaluable for the Indian players, given the limited opportunities they get to feature in overseas leagues.“Indian players don’t often get the chance to play in international leagues, so this is a valuable opportunity,” said the former India player. “It will allow our players to experience Australian hockey culture first-hand, observe how they prepare, and learn from their training methods.”This exposure, Rupinder believes, could prove invaluable as Indian players return home with fresh ideas, different perspectives and a better understanding of one of the world’s strongest hockey systems.
