Navneet Kaur inspires SG Pipers to Women’s Hockey India League 2025-26 title

SG Pipers completed a stunning turnaround in the Women's Hockey India League 2025-26, defeating Shrachi Bengal Tigers 3-2 in a shootout a fter a 1-1 draw in regulation time to claim the title. Team captain and Player of the Tournament Navneet Kaur reflected on the team’s resilience, composure, and a season-long transformation that saw them rise from last place last year to champions this season.

“This season, we focused on our plan and not past results. Even though we had lost to Shrachi Bengal Tigers in shootouts before, we did not dwell on it,” Navneet said. “Bansari Solanki had prepared well, and she knew how the opposing players would approach their attacks.”

The final saw SG Pipers stage a late comeback. Navneet highlighted the team’s unshakable belief, saying, “We created many opportunities in the first half and never gave up until the last minute. We had scored late goals before in the season, and we trusted each other to do it again. Our faith in the team never wavered.”

Navneet emphasized that clarity and consistency were key to the team’s success. “From the very first day of the camp and auction, we were clear about how we wanted to shape the team and how we would work together. We stuck to that plan throughout the tournament,” she added.

The 29-year-old forward finished as SG Pipers’ top scorer with four goals. Reflecting on last year’s disappointing finish(the team had finished at the bottom of the table in the previous season), she said, “We started planning immediately after last season, making the right changes and adding more options. That planning paid off in our performances this year.”

For her exceptional contributions, Navneet Kaur was named Player of the Tournament and received a prize o f Rs 20 lakh . Her leadership and scoring prowess were widely credited for SG Pipers’ remarkable rise to the top of the league.