JSW Soorma Hockey Club Eye Women’s HIL 2025-26 Title After Near Miss

After finishing at the top of the points table in the inaugural Women’s Hero Hockey India League (HIL) season but narrowly missing out in the final, JSW Soorma Hockey Club is determined to go one step further in the 2025-26 season. The team will once again be led by co-captains goalkeeper Savita and midfielder Salima Tete, aiming to convert last season’s promise into a championship-winning campaign.

One of the team’s major strengths lies in its goalkeeping. Legendary Savita, who recently reached 300 international caps, continues to anchor the defence, supported by Nidhi, first-choice goalkeeper for India’s Junior Women’s Team. In defence, experienced internationals Penny Squibb and Shihori Oikawa join rising Indian talent Jyoti and Jyoti Chhatri, providing a blend of experience and youth.

In midfield, Salima Tete will orchestrate play alongside national teammates Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke and Baljeet Kaur, while the team is further bolstered by international stars such as Sarah Robertson, Jimena Maria Cedres, and Vilar Del Valle Dupuy.

The attacking line-up features Maria Jose Granatto, Argentina’s prolific forward with 145 career goals, alongside Olivia Shannon from New Zealand and India’s dynamic young forwards Sonam and Mumtaaz Khan, who will be crucial in filling the void left by departed internationals such as Charlotte Englebert and Maria Verschoor.

Guided by Head Coach Jude Menezes, who was instrumental in the team’s consistency last season, JSW Soorma Hockey Club will rely on their mix of Indian and international experience to mount another serious title challenge.

The team will kick off its Women’s Hero HIL 2025-26 campaign against Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers on December 29 in Ranchi. With a strong squad across all departments, JSW Soorma Hockey Club is poised to contend for the top spot and finally clinch the title.