Bengaluru, 04 May (H.S.): A special 11‑day goalkeeping camp for the Indian women’s hockey team at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Bengaluru has concluded successfully. The programme, which ran from 22 April to 2 May, provided the team’s goalkeepers with high‑level technical and tactical training under the guidance of experienced coaches and support staff.

The camp was conducted under the supervision of goalkeeping coach David Williamson, with overall guidance provided by head coach Sjoerd Marijne. The programme also received support from Anandana (Kotak‑Koka‑Kola India Foundation), which helped facilitate the smooth execution of the training sessions.

The camp featured the participation of senior India‑cap keepers Savita, Bichu Devi Khribam, Bansarai Solanki and Madhuri Kindo. Throughout the camp, the players focused intensely on technical skills, decision‑making, defensive organisation and strategic understanding in realistic match‑like situations.

Senior goalkeeper Savita, in a statement shared with Hockey India, highlighted the value of such specialised camps. “These camps give us the opportunity to correct our mistakes and refine our skills,” she said. “Training in match‑like scenarios boosts our confidence on the field.”

She also underlined her responsibility as a senior player to guide younger teammates. “As an experienced keeper, it is part of my role to mentor younger players,” Savita added. “I try to pass on small, practical lessons from my experience and keep them motivated.”

Bichu Devi Khribam, who has represented India in over 60 international matches, described the camp as crucial ahead of upcoming major tournaments. “We worked extensively on fitness as well as on strengthening our defensive structure,” she said. “There was also a strong emphasis on improving on‑field communication and coordination among the defenders.”

Bansarai Solanki spoke about the new strategies and mental skills she picked up during the camp. “This camp helped me learn how to take decisions under pressure, organise the defence effectively and stay calm on the field,” she said.

“The coaching staff focused on strengthening our basic technique while also working on small adjustments that can make a big difference in the game.”

Players at the camp also drilled extensively on key game‑related features such as penalty‑corner defence, set‑piece play and awareness across different match situations. The coaching staff ran scenario‑based drills to train the goalkeepers and defenders in taking the right decisions in varied circumstances and in organising the backline in a more cohesive and effective manner.

The successful conclusion of the Bengaluru goalkeeping camp strengthens the defensive core of the Indian women’s hockey team just months before important international fixtures, with the emphasis now firmly on translating camp‑learned skills into match‑winning consistency.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar