Former Captain Pritam Siwach Says 1998 Asiad Silver Was a Turning Point for Indian Women’s Hockey

Former Indian women’s hockey team captain Pritam Siwach believes the silver medal at the 1998 Asian Games changed the future of women’s hockey in India. She says that moment gave the team confidence, brought the sport into the spotlight, and inspired a new generation of players.

In 1998, the Indian women’s hockey team performed brilliantly at the Asian Games in Bangkok. They reached the finals and won the silver medal. That performance was a big achievement at the time and caught the attention of hockey fans across the country. Pritam Siwach, who led the team during that tournament, remembers it as a turning point.

“Before 1998, people didn’t notice women’s hockey much,” she said. “But after we won silver, the country started to talk about us. We showed everyone that we could compete at the top level.”

Pritam explained how the team trained hard and stayed focused throughout the tournament. They beat strong teams and played with great energy and teamwork. Although they lost the final match to South Korea, they returned home as heroes.

The 1998 success gave a new boost to women’s hockey. Young girls across India started to dream of wearing the national jersey. Many took up the sport seriously after seeing the team’s performance. “It was the beginning of something bigger,” Pritam said.

She also praised the current women’s team and said that their progress builds on the foundation laid in 1998. “Today’s players are strong, skilled, and fearless. I feel proud to see how far we’ve come,” she added.

Pritam now coaches young players and helps them follow the same path she once walked. She believes that the spirit of 1998 still drives Indian women’s hockey forward.

That silver medal may not have been gold, but for Indian women’s hockey, it shined just as bright—and it changed everything.