LA qualification mattered more than 44-year wait for Asian Games gold: Savita
More than ending India’s 44-year wait for an Asian Games women’s hockey gold, veteran India goalkeeper Savita Punia said securing direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics was the team’s overriding objective, with the new coaching set-up transforming the side’s environment, unity and belief over the last 10 months. India’s 1-0 victory over defending champions and Olympic silver medallists China in the final on Friday not only brought an end to a long-standing gold medal drought but also ensured the team would have nearly two years to prepare for the Los Angeles Games without the burden of Olympic qualification hanging over them.
“When our new staff (led by head coach Sjoerd Marijne) came in, we had only one thing in mind -- that we have to qualify directly for LA. We knew it had been 44 years since India last won gold at the Asian Games, but more than history, our focus was on qualifying directly for the Olympics,” Savita said after India’s historic triumph on Friday. “We wanted to qualify directly so that we would have one-and-a-half years to prepare and perform better in LA, and hopefully go there for a medal.”
The Indian women had come agonizingly close to securing an Olympic berth at the Paris Games qualifiers, where they produced some impressive performances but fell short.
The experience, particularly for a side with a mix of young and inexperienced players, left a lasting impression on the team.
“We played very well at the Paris qualifiers, but we had some young players who lacked experience. We couldn’t qualify, and that day we decided that we had to secure direct qualification for LA. You must have heard us say in several interviews that our main aim was to qualify directly,” Savita said.
Savita also acknowledged Marijne’s faith in her after she left the camp midway.
“I had left the camp because of a personal reason, but the coach called me back and trusted me. Wayne and I also had a long conversation. I remember all those moments. I was brought back with a lot of faith, and I knew I had to do something for this team,” she said. The captain’s contribution extended beyond her performance between the posts, with her relationship with Bichu Devi emerging as another defining feature of India’s goalkeeping unit. The two shared the podium after the final, with Savita handing her medal to the younger goalkeeper, a gesture that reflected both their bond and the captain’s faith in her successor. “We have a very good bond, and that is our strength. We are not opponents; we are competitors who train together. When Bichu is standing in goal, she is standing for India. When I am standing there, I am also standing for India,” Savita said.
“I have always treated her like my younger sister, and she treats me like an elder sister. She is hardworking, and she comes from a similar background to mine. I have immense respect for effort she has put in,” she added.
