At Business Today’s Most Powerful Women (MPW) event, prominent Indian women athletes – hockey stars Navneet Kaur and Salima Tete, and kabaddi player Pushpa – convened to share invaluable lessons from their demanding sporting careers. Their discussion centered on the critical role of self-belief, resilience, and the broader ecosystem of support necessary for strengthening women’s sport in India.
Overcoming Setbacks and Building Confidence
Navneet Kaur, a seasoned hockey player, spoke candidly about her experience rebuilding confidence after a pivotal shootout miss during an Olympic qualifier. She revealed a personal strategy of mirror-based self-talk, a technique she employed to reinforce her belief and move past disappointment, preparing herself mentally for future challenges on the field.
Salima Tete echoed the sentiment of mental fortitude, emphasizing her focus on representing India and providing unwavering support to her teammates, rather than fixating on individual errors. Hailing from a small village with limited connectivity, Tete credited her father’s steadfast encouragement as instrumental in her pursuit of hockey. She expressed profound pride in her ability to represent the nation through her own efforts.
The Power of Teamwork and External Support
Reflecting on the Indian women’s hockey team’s journey following their failure to qualify for the Paris Olympics, Tete highlighted how improved communication, mutual support among players, and a strengthened relationship with coaching staff enabled the team to regain focus and work towards their Asian Games objectives. She also underscored the vital role of the Hockey India League (HIL), noting that it offers players crucial opportunities and experiences often unavailable during national camps. Facing funding challenges that jeopardize the league’s four-team format, Tete made a fervent appeal to sponsors and supporters to ensure the HIL's continuation, thereby fostering the growth of women's hockey.
Kabaddi player Pushpa shared a similar narrative of early encouragement, recalling how her father motivated her to embrace sports and facilitated her entry into a sports hostel, setting the foundation for her career.
Universal Lessons from Sporting Journeys
Despite their distinct disciplines, all three Indian women athletes converged on universal lessons applicable far beyond the realm of sport: the importance of discipline, patience, and effective teamwork. They stressed the wisdom of avoiding overreactions to short-term setbacks, viewing them as stepping stones rather than insurmountable obstacles. Their collective experiences powerfully illustrate how personal determination, familial encouragement, and broader institutional support are indispensable for women athletes to realize their ambitions and, in turn, elevate the standard of Indian sport as a whole.