Savita Punia became the second Indian female hockey player to play 300 matches for country on Monday.
The Arjuna Awardee achieved this landmark during India’s match against the Netherlands in the FIH Hockey Pro League 2024/25 at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Savita now joins Vandana Katariya as one of only two Indian women to have played 300 international matches. Savita is only the second Indian goalkeeper, male or female, to achieve this feat after the legendary PR Sreejesh.
Savita has been mainstay of the Indian women’s hockey for the past decade and has been among one of finest goalkeepers in the world since his debut at the age of the 20. She played a key role in India’s historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics, a campaign that elevated the team’s stature on the global stage. Her experience also proved invaluable in the Rio Olympics 2016 and the 2018 Vitality Hockey Women’s World Cup, where India reached the Quarter-Finals.
Savita also donned the captaincy role after the Tokyo Olympics and led India to bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and a title-win at the FIH Nations Cup in 2022. She also clinched two consecutive Women’s Asian Champions Trophy title in 2023 and 2024.
Expressing her emotions on the milestone, Savita said, “Playing 300 matches for India is an incredibly special moment for me. It has been an unforgettable journey. I am deeply grateful to Hockey India, Sports Authority of India, my family, teammates, and support staff who have stood by me throughout. Every match wearing the Indian jersey is an honour, and I will continue to give my best for the team.”
Hailing from Sirsa, Haryana, Savita has came a long way from debuting as 20-year-old in 2011 to leading the country at the biggest stage. Her performance against Australia in the quarter-final of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics is hailed as one of the best performances by any Indian goalkeeper at the quadrennial event.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
