New Delhi [India], March 24 (ANI): The success of Harmanpreet Kaur’s World Cup-winning Indian ladies’s cricket staff continues to encourage athletes, with Indian hockey ahead Navneet Kaur drawing motivation as she units her sights on world glory.
Navneet believes the cricket staff’s triumph has reshaped the mindset of athletes throughout disciplines and and strengthened perception inside the hockey squad.
‘Seeing Harmanpreet Kaur and the Indian ladies’s cricket staff raise the World Cup tells us what is feasible,’ Navneet Kaur informed Olympics.com.
‘It provides us the idea that we will obtain the identical in hockey. Our objective is obvious: to face on the rostrum on the World Cup after which carry house a medal from the LA 2028 Olympics.’
An important presence in India’s attacking unit, Navneet lately delivered a standout efficiency on the FIH World Cup 2026 Qualifiers. Her targets performed an important function in India ending runners-up and securing qualification for the World Cup later this 12 months. She additionally emerged as the one participant to attain a hat-trick within the match and was named Player of the Tournament.
Beyond her on-field exploits, Navneet credit the influence of witnessing Indian groups success on the worldwide stage for reworking perception inside the squad.
‘When you see an Indian (cricket) staff win at that stage, it modifications your mindset,’ Navneet stated. ‘You cease hoping and begin believing. That is what we would like as a staff – to go all the way in which,’ she stated, in response to Olympics.com.
The drive for fulfillment can also be fuelled by the heartbreak of narrowly lacking out on a medal on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the place India completed fourth.
‘We have been so shut, and that feeling stays with you,’ she mirrored. ‘It pushes you throughout coaching, throughout matches, through the hardest moments. We do not wish to miss out once more,’ she stated, in response to the report.
Hailing from Shahabad Markanda in Haryana, a area identified for producing hockey expertise, Navneet’s journey started at a younger age regardless of her father initially encouraging her to pursue cricket.
‘My father wished me to play cricket, however I used to be drawn to hockey,’ she recalled. ‘Even as a baby, I used to be very clear. I might prepare for hours and by no means wished to overlook observe. I simply cherished being on the sphere,’ she recalled.
Her rise to the nationwide staff got here via years of perseverance and sacrifice, navigating the bodily and emotional calls for of elite sport.
‘There have been tough days,’ Navneet admitted. ‘Being away from household, pushing your self day-after-day – it isn’t simple. But I by no means considered giving up. Hockey gave me happiness, and that saved me going,’ she stated, in response to Olympics.com.
‘As a senior, I really feel accountable for the youthful gamers,’ she stated. ‘I attempt to share my experiences and assist them settle in. When everybody grows collectively, the staff turns into stronger,’ she added. (ANI)