The Indian women’s hockey team is making every effort to qualify for the Asian Games and the Paris Olympics in 2024 next year. Sushila Chanu and Vandana Katariya, two members of the team that recently won the inaugural FIH Nations Cup, discuss why they deserve a sequel to the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Chak De! India.
The Indian Ladies’ Hockey group as of late gotten back from Spain. Gripping the prize of the debut FIH Countries Cup. Their video of enjoying their arrival at the airport has gotten a lot of boos and whistles. Which makes them feel like their journey deserves a movie. And why not? This victory has ensured that the team will compete in the FIH Hockey Pro League in 2023 and 2024. Which is a crucial event prior to the Asian Games and the Paris Olympics in 2024.
Sushila Chanu and Vandana Katariya, two senior members of the team, discuss how a lot has changed since the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer “Chak De! India was released in 2007. Most people will remember the rivalry between seniors and juniors in the Bollywood film, but Chanu claims that it has evolved over time. Better is better, in my opinion. Senior-junior kuchh nahi raha is the case.
She adds, “Pehle seniors se darr lagta tha.” “Everyone just wants to be motivated to win the game.” There is no support without it. Seniors have a right to freedom, and so should juniors. The 30-year-old, who has been playing since she was 11 years old, goes on to explain how the team’s dynamics have drastically changed. More films should be made like Chak De! India. The midfielder suggests that they should produce another one “just to show the world how our team works now.”
Chanu underscores how the group overall had only one objective, “Bas jeet hai, yehi soch this humari. Our group had played three practice matches against Spain and those we lost,” reviews Chanu about the time before the nail-gnawing finale where India crushed Spain on its home turf. Chanu says that the team worked hard to win, even though they initially felt like underdogs.
We collaborated in our analysis of the match videos. We lost the practice matches due to our own errors, but we worked together and our goal became a social media trend,” she exclaims. The world was also invested in the FIFA World Cup’s high-stakes matches at the time of their tournament. When asked if she believes the timing diverted attention from their victory.
Chanu responds that their team was sportingly enthusiastically watching the FIFA World Cup. We also watched the matches between practice and games because our coach, Janneke Schopman, is from Holland. Different game, enjoy, toh hum bhi karte hain! Katariya Vandana: Har match ko humne final ki tarah khela.
The Indian team was ranked eighth out of eight teams in the tournament, but Padma Shri Vandana Katariya says that their confidence to play each match as the final helped them get through. The beginning was focused on him. Sab my comprehension of this. According to Katariya, “Hum ek saath India ke liye khel rahe that.”
The 30-year-old asserts that the Indian team has mastered the ability to deal with nerves before a match and performance pressure. Unhe (Bollywood ko) humari Chak De team! She adds, “India ka sequel banana chahiye,” comparing their path through the tournament to that of a movie. Spain lost three practice matches to the United States in the end. All of this is due to the fact that everyone gave 110%.
The forward player adds, “Match mein sab apni responsibility puri karte hain aur bad mein masti karte hain.” Previously, Katariya was reserved and quiet around her seniors, but now she sees a cohesive team spirit among the players. Seniors are not welcome at this time. She explains that despite receiving the Padma Shri, the team does not treat her differently: “Hum sabs saath mein rehte hain, hanste-khelte hain aur mehnat karte hain.” All of us share the honor of Padma Shri, not just mine.