How Odisha Warriors & Soorma Hockey Club have Turned on the Style in Women’s HIL
The inaugural Women’s Hockey India League has well and truly arrived. Unlike the men’s league that features eight teams, the women’s version only features four teams, which effectively means that a ‘strong start’ is vital for all four teams in their pursuit of sealing a place in the final on January 26th.
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If the performances of the initial matches are anything to go by, Odisha Warriors and Soorma Hockey Club have indeed raise the bar with their flair and panache. The Odisha franchise coached by former Indian women’s hockey team Janneke Schopman, has looked the part in their league opener against Delhi SG Pipers – they are thriving on the Dutch firepower of world’s top drag-flicker & midfielder Yibbi Jansen and highly talented forward Freeke Moes.
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Besides the Dutch duo, the Warriors deep defence wear a redoubtable look with the Australian duo of goalkeeper Jocelyn Bartram and young talented deep defender Claire Colwill, Germany’s Lilly Stoffelsma alongside Indians eves such as Deep Grace Ekka and Ishika Chaudhary.
The Warriors have a sturdy midfield with experienced midfielder in two-time Olympian & two-time World-Cupper Kaitlin Nobbs, who happens to be the daughter of former Indian men’s hockey team coach Michael Nobbs. She has Argentinian Victoria Sauze for company besides the Indian quartet of skipper Neha Goyal, Nisha, Sonika, and Baljeet Kaur.
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The deep defence comprises Germany’s Lilly Stoffelsma besides Claire Colwill among the foreign players. Argentinian Victoria Sauze alongside Kaitlin Nobbs forge a potent combo in the midfield. The Warriors’ forwardline has exciting Indian players in the form of Rutaja Dadaso Pisal and Kanika Siwach alongside Netherlands’ Michelle Fillet with Freeke Moes shouldering a large chunk of the goal-scoring responsibilities given her stature and experience.
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Soorma Hockey Club have shown how they can pack the punches in their league opener against Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers. The Punjab franchise out on display what they were capable in their facile win over the Kolkata franchise. The team coached by former Indian goalkeeper as well as former New Zealand and Japan women team’s coach Jude Menezes, really turned on the heat in their opener.
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The Punjab franchise have a formidable ‘Indian firepower’ in the form of ex-captain & goalkeeper Savita, Indian eves skipper Salima Tete and Nikki Pradhan besides exciting youngsters such as Akshata Abaso Dhekale, Jyoti, and Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke. The Soormas have the lethal Belgium duo of midfielder & three-time Olympian Maria Verschoor and forward Charlotte Englebert – a forwardline that can instill fear among the opposition ranks with the likes of Germany’s three-time Olympian Charlotte Stapenhorst and New Zealand’s Olivia Shannon.
The team is adequately shored in the deep defence and midfielder with the presence of Australian two-time Olympian deep defender and drag-flicker Penny Squibb and Great Britain’s Sophie Hamilton. They also have emerging Chilean goalkeeper Natalia Salvador as back-up for experience Savita.
