Indian women’s team players Beauty Dung Dung and Sangita Kumari are excited to share the field with Argentine stars Agustina Albertario and Agostina Alonso, who will be playing for Ranchi Royals in the Women’s Hockey India League (HIL) season 2, starting December 28.
Argentina secured the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2022 and the bronze in the Paris Olympics in 2024. The Indian duo is looking forward to this opportunity to play alongside such accomplished players.
Expressing their admiration for Albertario and Alonso, Sangita stated, “The Argentine players come in with plenty of experience, especially Agustina Albertario and Agostina Alonso. They’re great players. I’m excited to share the dressing room with them and play alongside them.” Beauty added, “They’re a bit older than us and have played more matches, so they have a lot more experience. That’s something we can learn from. The more we interact with them, the better it will be for us.”
Sangita and Beauty are also enthusiastic about playing at home in Ranchi and preparing for the upcoming Olympic Qualifiers in Hyderabad. As the Ranchi Royals gear up for the second season of HIL, the young stars from Jharkhand are thrilled to represent their home franchise in front of a local crowd.
Having made their India debuts in 2021, Sangita has scored 30 goals while Beauty has contributed six. They are now looking forward to embarking on a new journey with Ranchi Royals in the HIL.
Sangita remarked, “It’s a proud feeling to play at my home ground. It’s always a special occasion to play in Ranchi, now that I’m representing the Ranchi Royals. The audience here loves hockey, and that makes it exciting for the players as well. For me, personally, it’ll be extra special because my family will come to watch the matches as well.”
Sangita, who was part of the Indian team that won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2022, said she is eagerly awaiting the campaign’s start.
Beauty also shared her enthusiasm about representing her home franchise. “Whenever we play a game in Ranchi, it’s always very crowded because there are so many hockey fans in the city. It’s our home ground, so we will do whatever it takes to win.”
The midfielder emphasized the positive impact HIL has on young players, providing them a chance to play alongside some of the top international talent. “Sometimes, as juniors, you wonder when you’ll get a chance to play for the senior team, but now this league gives junior players a chance to play with the top players from around the globe. If we raise the standards to the highest level, the grassroots system is bound to follow.”
Beauty added, “Women’s hockey is on the rise, and we want to take it even further. The HIL is a great platform for the juniors and state players. It’s a great learning experience for them—not only from the women’s matches but also from the men’s games.”
Both players highlighted the importance of interactions with international players in enhancing their skills. “There’s a lot we can learn from foreign players, and there are things they will learn from us as well. We’ll ask for their advice when we can’t execute a skill or convert a chance, and they are happy to share their suggestions,” Kumari shared.
With talents like Sakshi Rana and Kanika Siwach on their side, Ranchi Royals boast young Indian players who participated in the recently concluded Junior Women’s World Cup in Chile. Sangita advised these young players to enjoy the game. “They have to keep doing what they’re doing and enjoy the game. That’s the most important thing. My advice to them would be to back their technique and skills, and give it their best shot.”
The Women’s Hockey India League will commence on December 28, with Ranchi Royals facing off against SG Pipers. All matches will be broadcast live on Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 3, and DD Sports and streamed on Waves and the Hockey India League YouTube channel.