Bhubaneswar, Feb 24 (IANS) Goalkeeper Savita Punia completed 300 international caps 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.
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.”
A stalwart of Indian hockey, Savita made her senior team debut at the age of 20 and has since established herself as one of the finest goalkeepers in the world. 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.
As captain, Savita has led India to remarkable achievements, including a bronze medal at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and a title-winning campaign at the FIH Nations Cup. Under her leadership, India also clinched back-to-back gold medals in the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy in 2023 and 2024.
“Savita has been the backbone of Indian hockey for years, and reaching 300 caps is a testament to her dedication and skill. She has been a true leader and an inspiration to young players, especially goalkeepers looking to follow in her footsteps,” said Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey
Recognized for her outstanding contributions, Savita was honoured with the Arjuna Award and has been a two-time recipient of the Hockey India Balbir Singh Senior Award for Player of the Year (2022, 2023). Her excellence between the posts has also earned her the FIH Goalkeeper of the Year award for three consecutive seasons (2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23).
Hockey India Secretary General Shri Bhola Nath Singh added, “We are extremely proud of Savita’s achievement. Her leadership and performances have been instrumental in India’s rise on the world stage, and I have no doubt she will continue to steer the team to greater heights.”
–IANS
aaa/bsk/
Disclaimer
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by TodayIndia.news and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website.
Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of TodayIndia.news We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
Every effort is made to keep the website up and running smoothly. However, TodayIndia.news takes no responsibility for, and will not be liable for, the website being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond our control.
For any legal details or query please visit original source link given with news or click on Go to Source.
Our translation service aims to offer the most accurate translation possible and we rarely experience any issues with news post. However, as the translation is carried out by third part tool there is a possibility for error to cause the occasional inaccuracy. We therefore require you to accept this disclaimer before confirming any translation news with us.
If you are not willing to accept this disclaimer then we recommend reading news post in its original language.
