We Lacked Fitness, Mental Toughness But Working On Them Now: Salima Tete

Caught in a downward spiral of reverses since historic fourth-place finish in Tokyo Olympics , Indian women's hockey team captain Salima Tete on Wednesday attributed it to lack of fitness and mental toughness.

After creating history in Tokyo in 2021, team failed to qualify for Paris Olympics this year and also performed poorly in last FIH Pro League.

"Yes, of course we were disappointed but we can't think about past and need to move forward. We should move on because if we don't move on, we can never win a match," Salima told PTI in an interview ahe of women's Asian Champions Trophy in Rajgir, Bihar from vember 11 to 20.

"It was very difficult for everyone, t just for me but for everyone in team. But we have worked on it." journey, since failure to qualify for Paris Games, wasn't easy under new chief coach Harendra Singh. But Salima said those setbacks have taught m a big lesson.

"We h to start from beginning. We h to start from scratch. And fitness was an area that Harendra sir h pointed out and which needs a lot of work," she said.

"It was our mistake that we didn't work on fitness. But since sir came, we have worked a lot on our fitness. In today's level, if you don't have fitness, you can't play hockey because it is a fast sport and you need fitness." Salima said entire squ w realises importance of fitness.

"We do work on our strength. I also ticed that we were t able to lift so much weight. girls are w squatting more than 100kgs. This shows that we are working on our fitness. This shows that we are getting better." Harendra understands significance of mental aspect of game and that was precisely reason Indian women's hockey team underwent an intensive mental strengning and team building camp at prestigious Indian Naval Acemy in Kerala from July 14 to 21 this year.

"We didn't have mental experience. So, it ( camp) was very good. We didn't kw how it was going to be. It was very hard but we handled it. We were t able to sit and relax, we were very busy," Salima said.

"We have learned that we won't get anything if we don't work hard. We won't be able to keep up." Asked about or areas that need work, Salima pointed out: "Our focus is on scoring from inside circle and also from penalty corners. We have worked on this. We have worked on small, small things." Salima said it is a new beginning for Indian women's team and its sole focus w is on finishing on podium in 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

"A new season has started for Indian women's hockey. aim is to qualify for Los Angeles Olympics and finish on podium re. That's view.

"It is a very big thing for us and we are working for it from w. We are starting from zero. Sir tells us that we have to go to Asian Games, World Cup and 2028 Olympics," she said.

India will enter upcoming Asian Champions Trophy as defending champions and skipper said y will settle for thing less than gold.

"We want to win this championship (ACT). We don't think about results, we just want to play our game.

"To win this tournament we need team effort. Every player has to show her skill, like my strength is speed, so I have to use my speed to help team," she said.

"Everyone has different strengths and we will play to our strengths." Besides India, Paris Olympics silver medallist China, 2018 Asian Games champion Japan, Malaysia, two-time Olympic silver winner Korea and Thailand are or participating teams in tournament.