New Delhi [India], November 7 (ANI): The Indian women's hockey team did the country proud by clinching the Asia Cup title in Japan on Sunday, but none of its matches was telecast live, unlike the men's Asia Cup last month.
Monika Malik, a player of the victorious team, told ANI, "We are feeling very proud after becoming the champion of Asia. The men hockey team just got the gold medal and now we did it as well."
"However, I am a little disappointed because our matches were not telecast live on television like those of men," she noted.
The player added that the status given to women's hockey team should be at par with its male counterpart, considering their performances in the recent matches.
"We will definitely discuss this matter with our coach that women's hockey team should also be uplifted. Our ranking is also getting better with each passing day. We too deserve the status given to the men team," she said.
Another player asserted that showing their matches live would have resulted in better performance on the field.
"If our matches are also live, more people will see it, more support we will receive, and the better we will perform," she said.
Further, Goalkeeper Savita Punia, who played a major role in India's victory, said that they were hurt about not being live on TV, but they never let it affect their performance.
"Matches like these are the rare chances when the Indian public can get to know how good the Women's hockey team is doing and where do they need improvement. We were hurt by this issue somewhere but it is secondary. We can't take it with us when we are playing in the field. We have to focus on our match at that time," she told ANI.
Indian women's hockey team created history on Sunday after defeating China 5-4 in a nail-biting final to lift the Women's Asia Cup after 13 years, while qualifying for next year's women's World Cup as Continental Champions, in Japan's Kakamigahara Kawasaki Stadium. (ANI)
This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI