Field Vision

Sakshi Rana is one of the high-grade and gifted graduates of Pritam Siwach Academy. She possesses a sophisticated first touch that requires sequential yet efficient hip rotation. The pivot of the heel on the lead foot allows smooth rotation while spinning and creating space inside the D.

She can make rapid directional changes and use both the forehand and reverse stick to stretch play in a reactive style, supported by strong ball-manipulation skills. She reads space well and makes incisive decisions to disorganize the defense.

Her positioning is a major strength. She can play in multiple roles, from traditional left wing, central forward, and right wing to cutting inside as an inside forward, linking with midfielders, and remaining effective in tomahawk and forehand strokes.

Sakshi has been part of the winning side at the 2024 Women’s Junior Asian Cup and has recently been included in the Senior National Team and Ranchi Royals in the Hockey India League. Field Vision got the opportunity to dissect the journey of this prodigy.

Q: Sakshi, tell us about your journey. What motivated you to play this sport?

Sakshi: Before my journey in hockey, I used to learn taekwondo. My father works in the canteen and mess of a school. Many girls used to play hockey there. My brother told my father that he wanted to play the sport. He went every day, and a group of girls asked my brother to encourage me to play as well.

My father agreed and asked my brother to take me along with him, as he was busy in the canteen. I used to practice light dribbling at home, and when I entered the ground, I already had basic knowledge of dribbling and preparation, which helped me make a smooth transition.

Q: You are a graduate of Pritam Siwach Academy. Tell us about their nature, your journey, and the struggles you endured at the age-group level.

Sakshi: Pritam Siwach taught me very well how to behave at the venue, how to apply fundamental skills, and how to understand different structures of the game. On the field, she was very strict and made us perform specific tasks to improve our skill set. Off the field, she was a jolly character.

There were a couple of girls who played very well. We played junior, sub-junior, and senior tournaments for Haryana. Our team was strong, and we won many tournaments.

Before the coronavirus period, only a few girls used to practice. We traveled by bus or auto-rickshaw to the ground, which was difficult. Despite being busy with canteen work, my father used to take me and wait for two to three hours during practice. Kuldeep bhaiya taught us many basics, such as how to dodge, how to make runs, and other fundamental elements of the game, so that we would not face difficulties in our journey.

Q: You had a good connection with midfielder Neha Goyal for Ranchi Royals, and she is also a graduate of Pritam Siwach Academy. Tell us about the mentorship you received from her and Kuldeep bhaiya.

Sakshi: I have a good connection with Neha Goyal on the field. I have watched her closely and learned a lot. She helped me understand how to build rhythm and move forward.

Kuldeep Siwach bhaiya taught me strong basics of hockey. He also worked on my cognitive development. For example, in a 5v4 situation, he taught me how to manage it alone and how to score. I learned many important aspects from him.

Q: Sakshi, your role has been diverse. You are good at attacking the baseline, generating power from acute angles to shoot, and you are also versatile in areas like left midfield and on both wings. Which is your favorite position that maximizes your traits?

Sakshi: I like playing as an intermediate figure in the centre. It allows me to rotate left and right, dodge, and carry the ball at speed. I am confident in tackling. My teammates trust my skill set. When I have the ball, they believe I will carry it forward.

In the previous edition, all the star players occupied forward positions, so I tried to fill the gap and give my best in the assigned role.

Q: Tell us about your growth as a 17-year-old prodigy who became a known prospect in this edition, and about playing under Janneke Schopman, Harry Sir, and Tushar Khandekar.

Sakshi: In the previous Hockey India League, I did not get many opportunities. Janneke Schopman asked us to play a different structure, manage phases of play, and apply varied presses at high speed. It was my first year, so I needed time to adapt.

I knew that in the next HIL season, I had to perform and give my best. Tushar Sir understood the strengths of each player well. I clearly understood and trusted the roles and tasks he had assigned to us. Tushar bhaiya’s and Harry Sir’s structures were similar, so it was easier for me to understand the demands.

Q: Harry Sir picked you after your first exposure in the Hockey India League, and you also scored your first goal against Spain on your debut. Tell us about that moment.

Sakshi: When Harry Sir picked me for the Pro League, he told me that he had selected me and would give me the opportunity to play. He asked me to give my best on the field. I watched the first couple of games from the bench.

Before every match, there was a team meeting. I received blessings from my seniors to play well and with a free mind. They told me, “We have your back. Just play your game.”

Harry Sir told me to mark a certain player, Lucia Jimenez, as the pressing trigger. Whenever she had the ball, I had to press her. I won the ball and decided to shoot with a tomahawk after the release. That day was lucky for me.

Q: In your first year as an international senior player, what difference did you notice compared to nationals where you grew up?

Sakshi: At the international level and in leagues with overseas players, women’s hockey is very physical. When you win the ball, opponents push and tackle from behind immediately. At the national level, dodging and dribbling can work. At the international level, that is not enough. You need sharp vision, speed, and top fitness to manage this level.

Q: What aspects do you think you should improve to excel in international hockey?

Sakshi: In international hockey, three elements are essential in my opinion: speed, technique, and toughness, followed by discipline. Toughness is very important. If you lack physical toughness, you will give the ball away easily.

Q: What intrinsic motivation pushes you toward higher ambitions?

Sakshi: From the first day I picked up a hockey stick, my dream was to play for India and help my country win an Olympic gold medal. I work every day to improve and address my weaknesses and do extra to overcome them. If I lack strength, I train for it. If I lack speed, I ask my trainer to help me improve.

Day by day, I think and work on different aspects that can help me grow as a player. Even in deep sleep, I keep visualizing what I could have done better. As long as “if and buts” remain, you cannot move forward, so I try in every way to eliminate them from my journey. There should be no regret about what we could have done better.

Q: Tell us about your preparation under the current setup.

Sakshi: I am new to Sjoerd Marijne, so it may take time for him to understand my strengths and weaknesses. I have to be at my best during trials and then give my best during the World Cup qualifiers. If I am selected, I do not want to just play. I want to give my best on that platform.

Q: In your short career, what has been your favorite moment and what are your goals moving forward?

Sakshi: My favorite moment of my short international career was scoring a goal against Spain on my debut and scoring two goals against Namibia in the Junior World Cup, one from the left and one from the right. My goals for the future are to play in the Olympics for Team India and win the gold medal.

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