India has a rich history of hockey, both in the men’s and women’s categories. The Indian women’s hockey team has achieved many laurels at the international level, such as winning the gold medal at the 1982 Asian Games, the bronze medal at the 2014 Asian Games, and the silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games. The team also qualified for the 2016 and 2020 Olympics, reaching the semifinals in the latter.
The success of the Indian women’s hockey team is largely due to the talent and dedication of its players, who have overcome many challenges and hardships to pursue their passion for the sport. In this article, we will look at the top 10 best female hockey players in India, who have made a mark in the hockey world with their skills, achievements, and leadership.
10. Navneet Kaur
Navneet Kaur is a forward who plays for the Indian women’s hockey team. She started playing hockey at the age of 13 and joined the national camp in 2014. She made her international debut in 2014 and has since played 92 matches for India, scoring 35 goals.
Navneet Kaur is the rising star of Indian women’s hockey and one of the most lethal finishers in the team. She is a fast, agile, and intelligent player who can exploit the gaps in the opposition defense and score with precision and power. She was part of the Indian team that won the silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games and the gold medal at the 2017 Asia Cup. She also represented India at the 2020 Olympics, where she scored five goals, including a hat-trick against South Africa in the group stage and a crucial one against Argentina in the semifinals.
9. Gurjit Kaur
Gurjit Kaur is a defender and drag-flicker who plays for the Indian women’s hockey team. She made her international debut in 2017 and has since become one of the most reliable penalty corner specialists in the team. She has scored 64 goals in 107 matches for India, making her the highest goal-scorer among the current players.
Gurjit Kaur was instrumental in India’s historic run at the 2020 Olympics, where she scored four goals, including the match-winner against Australia in the quarterfinals. She also scored the equalizer against Great Britain in the bronze medal match, which India lost by a narrow margin. She was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2020 for her outstanding contribution to hockey.
8. Monika Malik
Monika Malik is a midfielder who plays for the Indian women’s hockey team. She started playing hockey at the age of 11 and joined the national camp in 2012. She made her international debut in 2014 and has since played 187 matches for India, scoring 10 goals.
Monika Malik is known for her speed, agility, and work rate on the field. She is a versatile player who can play in different positions and roles. She was part of the Indian team that won the bronze medal at the 2014 Asian Games, the silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games, and the gold medal at the 2017 Asia Cup. She also represented India at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics, where she played a key role in the midfield.
7. Poonam Rani
Poonam Rani is a forward who plays for the Indian women’s hockey team. She started playing hockey at the age of 14 and joined the national camp in 2009. She made her international debut in 2010 and has since played 204 matches for India, scoring 38 goals.
Poonam Rani is one of the most experienced players in the Indian team, having played in two World Cups, two Commonwealth Games, two Asian Games, and one Olympics. She is a skillful and creative player who can create and finish chances in the attacking circle. She was part of the Indian team that won the bronze medal at the 2014 Asian Games, the silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games, and the gold medal at the 2017 Asia Cup. She also represented India at the 2016 Olympics, where she scored two goals.
6. Sushila Chanu
Sushila Chanu is a defender and midfielder who plays for the Indian women’s hockey team. She started playing hockey at the age of 11 and joined the national camp in 2008. She made her international debut in 2009 and has since played 220 matches for India, scoring 11 goals.
Sushila Chanu is a calm and composed player who can control the tempo of the game with her passes and interceptions. She is also a strong tackler and a leader on the field. She was the captain of the Indian team that won the gold medal at the 2016 South Asian Games and the vice-captain of the Indian team that qualified for the 2016 Olympics after 36 years. She was also part of the Indian team that won the silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games and reached the semifinals of the 2020 Olympics.
5. Ritu Rani
Ritu Rani is a midfielder who plays for the Indian women’s hockey team. She started playing hockey at the age of 14 and joined the national camp in 2006. She made her international debut in 2006 and has since played 248 matches for India, scoring 49 goals.
Ritu Rani is one of the most decorated players in the Indian team, having won the Arjuna Award in 2016 and the Hockey India Dhruv Batra Player of the Year Award in 2015. She is a dynamic and influential player who can dictate the game with her vision, passing, and dribbling. She was the captain of the Indian team that won the bronze medal at the 2014 Asian Games, the gold medal at the 2017 Asia Cup, and qualified for the 2016 Olympics. She also represented India at the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.
4. Deep Grace Ekka
Deep Grace Ekka is a defender and drag-flicker who plays for the Indian women’s hockey team. She started playing hockey at the age of 10 and joined the national camp in 2011. She made her international debut in 2012 and has since played 224 matches for India, scoring 32 goals.
Deep Grace Ekka is a solid and consistent player who can defend well and also contribute to the attack with her penalty corner conversions. She is the vice-captain of the Indian team and a key member of the defensive unit. She was part of the Indian team that won the bronze medal at the 2014 Asian Games, the silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games, and the gold medal at the 2017 Asia Cup. She also represented India at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics, where she scored three goals, including the opener against Ireland in the group stage.
3. Vandana Katariya
Vandana Katariya is a forward who plays for the Indian women’s hockey team. She started playing hockey at the age of 11 and joined the national camp in 2007. She made her international debut in 2008 and has since played 276 matches for India, scoring 69 goals.
Vandana Katariya is the highest-capped and highest goal-scorer among the current Indian players. She is a prolific and versatile striker who can play in different positions and score different types of goals. She was part of the Indian team that won the bronze medal at the 2014 Asian Games, the silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games, and the gold medal at the 2017 Asia Cup. She also represented India at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics, where she became the first Indian woman to score a hat-trick in hockey, against South Africa in the group stage.
2. Savita Punia
Savita Punia is a goalkeeper and captain who plays for the Indian women’s hockey team. She started playing hockey at the age of 13 and joined the national camp in 2007. She made her international debut in 2008 and has since played 255 matches for India, keeping 90 clean sheets.
Savita Punia is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, who has won many matches for India with her brilliant saves and reflexes. She is also a leader and motivator for the team, both on and off the field. She was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2021 for her outstanding contribution to hockey. She was part of the Indian team that won the bronze medal at the 2014 Asian Games, the silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games, and the gold medal at the 2017 Asia Cup. She also represented India at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics, where she made some crucial saves, especially against Australia in the quarterfinals and Argentina in the semifinals.
1. Rani Rampal
Rani Rampal is a forward and captain who plays for the Indian women’s hockey team. She started playing hockey at the age of six and joined the national camp in 2007. She made her international debut in 2008 and has since played 272 matches for India, scoring 115 goals.
Rani Rampal is the face of Indian women’s hockey and one of the best players in the world. She is a skillful, speedy, and clinical player who can create and score goals out of nothing. She is also a charismatic and inspirational leader who has led the team to many historic achievements. She was awarded the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2020, the highest sporting honor in India, and the Padma Shri Award in 2020, the fourth highest civilian award in India. She was part of the Indian team that won the bronze medal at the 2014 Asian Games, the silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games, and the gold medal at the 2017 Asia Cup. She also represented India at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics, where she scored four goals, including the decisive one against Ireland in the group stage and the historic one against Great Britain in the bronze medal match.