Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], March 14 (ANI): Hockey India on Saturday congratulated Captain Salima Tete on making her a hundred and fiftieth look for the Indian Women’s Hockey Team throughout the Final conflict of the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers 2026 towards England.
Known for her blistering tempo and tireless work ethic in midfield, Salima made her debut for India within the 2016 Test Matches towards Australia held in Melbourne in November 2016. Since then, the 25-year-old Jharkhand-born midfielder has developed into one of the crucial influential gamers within the nationwide setup, creating quite a few scoring alternatives for her teammates whereas additionally netting 16 objectives herself, based on a press launch.
Salima attained Olympian standing at simply 19 years of age when she was a part of the historic Indian staff that completed fourth on the Tokyo Olympics 2020. The expertise proved to be a significant turning level in her profession, as she emerged as one of many staff’s standout performers within the years that adopted.
Soon after, she was named the Rising Player of the Tournament on the Women’s Asia Cup 2022 in Muscat, the place India secured a third-place end. Salima additionally captained the Indian aspect on the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup 2021 in Potchefstroom, South Africa, the place the staff completed fourth.
At the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Salima scored a vital purpose within the third/4th place match towards New Zealand, serving to India script their first official victory over the Kiwis by a penalty shootout and clinch the Bronze medal. She was additionally an integral a part of the Indian Women’s Hockey Team that received the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup Spain 2022 in December that 12 months.
In 2023, Salima continued her rise by taking part in a key function in India’s Bronze medal-winning marketing campaign on the Hangzhou Asian Games. Her best particular person efficiency got here later that 12 months on the Jharkhand Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Ranchi 2023, the place she scored 5 objectives in seven matches and was named Player of the Tournament.
In addition to her contributions on the sphere, Salima was appointed as an AHF Athletes Ambassador in March 2023, a task that additional underlined her rising stature in worldwide hockey and her dedication to athlete illustration and growth.
Her constant performances and management qualities have been rewarded in 2024 when she was appointed Captain of the Indian Women’s Hockey Team. Under her management, India went on to win Gold on the Bihar Women’s Asian Champions Trophy Rajgir 2024 and adopted it up with a Silver medal on the Women’s Asia Cup Gongshu 2025.
Salima’s rise in worldwide hockey has additionally been mirrored within the recognition she has obtained off the sphere. In 2021, she was honoured with the Hockey India Asunta Lakra Award for Upcoming Player of the Year (Women Under 21), underlining her emergence as one of many brightest younger abilities within the nation.
Her continued excellence was additional acknowledged in 2023 when she obtained the celebrated Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the Year. In 2024, Salima’s excellent contribution to Indian hockey was recognised on the nationwide stage with the Arjuna Award, marking one other main milestone in her inspiring profession.
Congratulating Salima on the milestone, Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey stated, ‘Completing 150 worldwide caps at such a younger age is a superb achievement and speaks volumes about Salima’s expertise, consistency, and dedication to Indian hockey. She has grown tremendously as a participant through the years and has led the staff with nice vitality and maturity. Salima’s journey from Jharkhand to captaining the Indian Women’s Hockey Team is really inspiring, and on behalf of Hockey India, I congratulate her on this particular milestone and want her continued success.’
Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh added, ‘Salima Tete has been one of the crucial thrilling and influential gamers in Indian ladies’s hockey in recent times. Her capacity to steer from the entrance, each along with her performances and her angle, has made her an important member of the staff. Reaching 150 caps is a proud second for her, her household, and Indian hockey as an entire. We congratulate her on this landmark and look ahead to seeing her obtain many extra milestones sooner or later.’ (ANI)