For Navneet Kaur, the journey to international hockey began in the fields of Shahabad Markanda, a small Haryana town renowned for producing some of India’s finest hockey players. The 30-year-old forward once again proved her mettle with a standout performance in the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup Qualifiers 2026.India finished runners-up after losing 2–0 to England in the final at the GMC Balayogi Hockey Stadium in Hyderabad. Despite the defeat, India secured qualification for the upcoming FIH Women’s World Cup.Navneet emerged as one of India’s top performers in the tournament and is currently the joint top scorer with four goals. Her finest moment came in India’s last pool match against Wales, where she scored a brilliant hat-trick to seal a commanding 4–1 victory.Born to farmer parents in Shahabad Markanda, Navneet discovered the sport early. “I started playing hockey when I was nine. My father loved cricket and I used to accompany him. Since hockey was so popular in our town, I picked it up,” she recalled. Her father gifted her the first hockey stick that set her on the path to professional sport.The town’s strong hockey culture inspired her ambition. Watching players from the local academy return after India camps made her dream of wearing the national jersey.A major influence in her journey has been her mentor Baldev Singh, the Padma Shri and Dronacharya awardee who coached her at the Shahabad academy. “All the hockey that I know today, I owe to Baldev sir,” she said.Navneet first attended an India junior camp in 2011 and soon became part of the national setup. She represented India at the Junior Asia Cup and was part of the squad that won bronze at the 2013 Women’s Hockey Junior World Cup.She made her senior debut in 2014 and has been a regular in the national team since 2017.Reflecting on her hat-trick against Wales, Navneet credited teamwork. “I just wanted to execute what I practise whenever I got the chance. It’s a team effort,” she said.Playing in front of enthusiastic crowds in Hyderabad also left an impression. “Many young girls came to watch the matches with their parents. That support inspires the next generation,” she said.Her advice to young athletes remains simple: “Passion and consistency are the key. If you keep working hard, your goals will follow.”
