Natalia Salvador, the first Chilean in the Indian Hockey League

The experiences around the world are one of the great reasons that current field hockey provides for many players who choose to make a quality leap from amateur to professional. Natalia Salvadorgoalkeeper from Las Diablas, is an example of this. She became the first Chilean to be part of the Hockey India League. “It is an honor for me to be here. I hope to represent Chile in the best way and hopefully in the next versions we can see more Diablas here”he told AM850 Hockey.

“I think it is a nice tournament. Everything is very professional and the Indians are very fanatical”Salvador said. “The best players from all over India and the world are divided into four teams. I would love for us to reach the final and I think we can. There is a nice atmosphere on campus and for me it is the key”he added. Through his partner Camila Caram who told him about how to register for the championship, Soorma Hockey Club selected her in the live auction, the method by which each club chooses its members.

As he said, world-class players are part of the competition, and especially, Savita Punia, chosen the best goalkeeper in the world three times in a row by the FIH (2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23) is his partner in goal. “It’s incredible to be with her. She has a lot of experience, she is one of my references. We have already met in many tournaments playing against each other and today we are training on the same team as equals.”commented on the matter.

Jimena Cedrés and Victoria Sauze, Argentine internationals with Las Leonas, are the other two South American teammates who play for Soorma with her. Today they are companions and have also been rivals with Las Diablas. The Chilean team will have a very busy year. “At the end of February we have the Nations Cup in Santiago. We are very happy to play this tournament at home. For us it is an advantage to have our people cheering us on. Then at the end of July with the Copa América in Uruguay there is the possibility of qualifying for the next World Cup. It is one of our great objectives”he concluded.

The Hockey India League women will begin to dispute the Sunday, January 12 and will end on Sunday, January 26. It is made up of four teams: Delhi SG Pipers, Odisha Warriors, Shrachi Rarth Bengal Tigers and Soorma Hockey Club. The game system will be round-robin round-robin and those who finish in the first two places will compete in the final for the trophy.