Beauty Dungdung enjoying return to international hockey at FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers 2024

Hosts India, which are placed in Pool B, earned a whopping 3-1 win over New Zealand in their second game of the competition on Sunday, with Beauty Dungdung finding herself on the goalsheet along with Udita and Sangita Kumari.

After a 0-1 loss to the United States in their first game on Saturday, the crucial win over the Black Sticks has given India a boost of confidence ahead of their final Pool game against Italy set to take place on Tuesday. Beauty said that she is enjoying her return to the team and is glad she was able to make a contribution to India's win on Sunday.

"I am enjoying my return to the team. It had been a long time since I had been a part of the squad. So, it feels good that I was able to make my way back into the team after an injury and was able to contribute to the win over New Zealand," Beauty said as quoted by Hockey India. The 21-year-old suffered a major injury early in February last year and had to undergo surgery in March. She opened up on the tough rehabilitation period and explained how support from teammates and coaching staff kept her motivated. "A week after the operation, I started the rehabilitation process. I was experiencing pain but I kept motivating myself. I was regularly doing the physiotherapy exercises that I was recommended by the medical staff. It required a lot of focus. Until you have the right focus and the mindset to return, it becomes even more difficult. So, I had my mind focused that I have to work hard so that I can come back to the team," she recalls. "Everyone gave me a lot of support during this time. It was the first time I was injured, so I was quite upset. Our Chief Coach Janneke Schopman motivated me and told me that each player learns from the injury period about what more they can improve in their game and how they can become mentally strong. I realised that if you have a strong mind, it helps in increasing your focus on your game," she further added. Beauty also expressed elation over having a chance to compete in the Olympic Qualifiers in front of the home crowd. The top three teams from the tournament will book a berth for the 2024 Paris Olympics and Beauty said that she hopes India would earn a spot for the prestigious event. "I am elated that this is the Olympic Qualifiers and I am getting a chance to play in front of my home crowd and my state. I am used to playing here, so it has been comparatively easier for me to get used to the conditions here. I am excited because my friends and family members are also getting to watch my matches," she said. She further admitted that playing in the home state does add to the pressure and opened up on how the team prepares for the mental aspects of the game. "There is always pressure because I am directly playing a major tournament after injury. But if we let this pressure take over our minds, it would increase our struggle. Our team does yoga and mindfulness exercises every day which relaxes us. Our motto is to not take any pressure before any match and always do our best," she said. On being asked about the team's strategies ahead of the next game, Beauty said that her side will not take any teams lightly. "All the teams in the competition are equally tough. We do not take any competition lightly. Italy have performed well and have shown they will not make it easy for any opposition. We will study their games and try to stick to our strengths and hope we can achieve a positive result," she signed off. (ANI)