Ranchi, Jan 9 (UNI) Ahead of Saturday’s Women’s Hockey India League(HIL) final, SG Pipers captain Navneet Kaur expressed satisfaction at her team’s performance and emphasised that the players must enjoy the final match irrespective of the pressure.
During an online media interaction on Friday, Navneet who has over 200 international caps representing India said “We have been playing well since the first match itself and in the finals I hope we are able to give our best show, what is important is that everybody enjoys the match.”
SG Pipers, who had finished last during the 2024-25 season have turned their fortunes around this season as they sit top of the table after the league stage with 11 points, winning three matches and losing one.
Navneet, a bronze medalist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games felt that a more experienced squad this time and better co ordination among players has been the main reason for the change in fortunes of the Pipers
“last year co-ordination was lacking and this year while selecting the team we made it a point to pick such players who will be able to co-ordinate well among themselves and are able to take responsibility, this time from the time of the auction itself we made it a point to have more experienced players in the defense and mid field.”
Navneet has had a very good HIL season thus far scoring four goals, said that other senior players of the side have taken up a lot of responsibilities which is why she has been able to express herself more freely
“our side has many experienced players we shared the responsibilities Lola(Riera) in defense and Kaitlin (Nobbs) in the middle have taken up a lot of workload hence. I was able to express myself freely and that is the same thing that I want to do in the national team as well.”
SG Pipers will face Shrachi Bengal Tigers in the final at Ranchi’s Jaipal Singh Stadium tommorow. Tigers finished at the second spot in the legue standings with 10 points. The current season of Women’s Hockey India League(HIL) was hosted entirely in Ranchi.
