The Odisha Warriors, in a 4-0 win over the Delhi SG Pipers in the inaugural game of the Women’s Hockey India League, certainly looked like a winning side.
The team dressed in orange tops with blue kilts, similar to the top-ranked and current Olympic champions from the Netherlands. The Warriors are coached by Holland’s Janneke Schopman, who was late the head coach of India’s women in the leadup to Olympic qualifying.
But importantly, Schopman managed to secure FIH World Player of the Jear Yibbi Jansen of Holland in the league’s player auction that filled out the roster.
Jansen showed her value, scoring a penalty corner goal in each half to beat the Delhi SG Pipers 4-0. Both goals were scored off dragflicks from just inside the top of the circle, snaking between the post player and the goalkeeper.
Baljeet Kaur and Freeke Moes would score two quick goals in the third quarter minutes after Jansen’s second. Kaur scored off a brilliant wall pass from the second-goal area on the left wing, while Moes’ goal came from about the penalty spot a the Pipers’ defense left her entirely too much room.
The result is the ultimate for Odisha, opening a numerical and psychological advantage over the rest of the field. Tomorrow, Soorma HC will take on the Shrachi Rahr Bengal Tigers in the second of 12 leaguewide fixtures before the WHIL grand final on January 26th.