Making a comeback in sports demands immense character, and Indian Women’s Hockey Team forward Sharmila Devi exemplifies this. After her last appearance in May 2023 during a test series against Australia, Sharmila returned to the national team after nearly nine months, playing against China in the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023-24 in February 2024.
Reflecting on her extended absence from the national side, the young forward from Haryana said, “It wasn’t easy. I didn’t get to play for the national side for close to nine months. After the test series against Australia, I got to play for the team in the FIH Hockey Pro League in February 2024, missing out on the Asian Games and Olympic Qualifiers. Those were trying times, but I stayed strong mentally and patiently waited for my chance while training hard.”
Determined to rejoin the national team, Sharmila focused intensely on improving her game during her time away. She shared, “I worked on my game day in and day out. I wanted to become the best player I could be. I was very clear that that was the only way back and that I had to give it my all. So that’s exactly what I did. While working on my skills as a forward, I also worked on the defensive aspects of the game.”
When the Indian Women’s Hockey Team faced China in their first game of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023-24, Sharmila finally returned to the field. She described the moment as joyous, saying, “I was more than excited to be wearing the Indian jersey once again. It felt very rewarding for all the work that was put in. I would have been happier if we had won that game but it was unfortunately not meant to be.”
The Indian Women’s Hockey Team played several thrilling matches during the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023-24, including a nail-biting game against Great Britain. India lost 2-3, but Sharmila scored India’s second goal. She recounted, “They took a two-goal lead early in the game and had us on the back foot straight away. When we scored our first goal in the third quarter, we were pumped. We put a lot of pressure on them in the final quarter and we got them to break, setting up the perfect opportunity for us to equalize and I used that chance. They managed to take the lead soon after and we couldn’t score another one but it was a thrilling game. I only wish we could’ve won that match.”
Sharmila remains committed to improving her game and contributing to the Indian Women’s Hockey Team’s success. She concluded, “Every time we step onto the field, we give our hundred per cent. This is something I have always done and will continue to do so. I will work hard to consistently do well for the national team and help us win more and more games as time goes by.”
