#worldcup2026 #worldcup #fieldhockeyplayer #navneetkaur #baljeetkaur #salimatete #savitachaudhary #ranirampal #hockey #fihhockey #hockeyindialeague #hockeyrink #fieldhockeyplayers #fieldhockeylife #hockeargentina
In the last FIH World Cup Hockey Tournament for women, India came close to matching its best previous finish, a semifinal. India finished fifth, its highest finish since losing the bronze medal match in the inaugural tournament in Mandelieu, France, in March 1974. Indian team, led by Ajinderpal Kaur, toppled the ultimate champions, the Netherlands, by a solitary goal in the preliminary group match. The Netherlands defeated Argentina by a solitary goal scored by Nel van Kollenburg. Incidentally, Nel van Kollenburg did not play in the match that Holland lost to India. In that match, the only Indian goal was scored by Baljit Bhatti. Incidentally, it was the last tournament Baljit Bhatti played as "She" before "she" became "he". Those who have read my book Indian Hockey, Road to Barcelona must remember my face-to-face encounter with Baljit Bhatti when "he" returned to India after undergoing a successful sex change surgery in England. Nel van Kollenburg, the Dutch star, was not able to recall much about Baljit Bhatti except that she was a strong, well-built player, but she could recall how gloom had descended in the Dutch camp after its loss to India. The Indian team in 1974 was much stronger than the present Indian team, felt the Dutch star now in her late 70s. Nel van Kollenburg had an open and free chat with me on the sidelines of the FIH World Cup 2026 about how hockey has become more attractive and aggressive. She says that hockey on grass was hampered by bouncy fields. Men's hockey is more robust, aggressive and attractive. Watch this vlog for some interesting revelations the former Dutch star made during this interaction.
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