Women hockey in India has gained substantial prominence owing to the victory of Indian team in a number of tournaments. Indian women`s hockey team is the representative women`s hockey in India. The team achieved a great success under the captainship of Suraj Lata Devi and bagged gold medals in three consecutive years in different tournaments including the 2002 Commonwealth Games, the 2003 Afro-Asian Games and the 2004 Hockey Asia Cup. After this victory the team also received the title of "golden girls of hockey".
Women`s Hockey World Cup
In the women`s hockey world cup held in the year 1971 in Auckland (New Zealand), India ranked 5th whereas in the year 1974 it ranked 4th in Mandelieu, France. In 1998, India stood 12th in the world cup held in Utrecht, Netherlands. In the tournament of 2001 Sanggai Chanu, a hockey player from India was honoured with Young Player of the Tournament award. India was ranked 11th and 9th in the world cup tournaments of 2006 (in Madrid, Spain) and 2010 (in Rosario, Argentina) respectively.
Women Hockey in Olympic Games
In the 1980 Olympic Games held in Moscow, Russia, India ranked 4th whereas it stood 10th in the 2000 Women`s Field Hockey Olympic Qualifier. In the qualifying event of 2008 Women`s Field Hockey Olympic Qualifier, Indian women`s hockey team ranked fourth. Rani Devi was awarded with the Most Promising Young Player of the Tournament award.
Women Hockey in Champions Challenge
In the Champions Challenge of 2002 Indian women`s hockey team won bronze in Johannesburg, South Africa. In the tournament Jyoti Sunita Kullu was honoured with the top scorer award for five goals.
Women Hockey in Commonwealth Games
In the Commonwealth Games of 1998 organized in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Indian women`s hockey team ranked 4th whereas it won gold medal in the tournament of 2002 held in Manchester, United Kingdom. In the Commonwealth Games of 2006 in Melbourne, Australia it bagged silver medal. It ranked 5th in the tournament of 2010 held in Delhi.
Women Hockey in Asian Games
Indian women`s hockey team won gold medal in the Asian Games of 1982 held in New Delhi and won bronze medal in the tournament of 1986 in Seoul, South Korea. It bagged silver medal in the year 1998 in Bangkok, Thailand. India ranked 4th in the Asian Games of 2002 held in Busan, South Korea. It was the winner of bronze medal in the year 2006 at Doha, Qatar whereas stood 4th in the year 2010 at Guangzhou, China.
Women Hockey in Asia Cup
In the Asia Cup of 2007 held in Hong Kong, Indian women`s hockey team ranked 4th whereas it won bronze medal in the tournament of 2013 held in Malaysia.
Women Hockey in Afro-Asian Games
Indian women`s hockey team won gold medal in the Afro-Asian Games of 2003 organized in 2003.
Arjuna Awards in Women Hockey
A number of women hockey players from India have been awarded with the prestigious Arjuna Award for their splendid performances. The receivers of this award are Anne Lumsden in 1961, Yvonne Smith in 1962, Elvira Britto in 1965, Sunita Puri in 1966, Dr. Otilia Mascarenhas in 1973-74, A. Kaur in 1975-76, Lorraine Fernandes in 1976-1977, Eliza Nelson in 1980-81, Varsha Soni in 1981, Rajbir Kaur in 1984, Prem Maya Sonir in 1985, Pritam Rani Siwach (former captain) in 1998, S. Omana Kumari in 1998, Tingonleima Chanu in 2000, Madhu Yadav in 2000, Mamta Kharab in 2002, Suraj Lata Devi (former captain) in 2003 and Helen Mary in 2004.
