The SG Pipers, led by captain Navneet Kaur, made a perfect start to their Women's Hockey India League (HIL) campaign with a convincing 2-0 victory over the Ranchi Royals on the opening night in Ranchi on December 29, 2025. For a side that managed only a single win in the previous edition, this result marks a significant and positive shift.
Captain Navneet Delivers on Pre-Season Promise
Ahead of the league's second season, Navneet Kaur had clearly outlined her ambitions to The Indian Express. Her focus was on playing a more attacking brand of hockey, improving combinations with teammates, and crucially, contributing more from set-piece situations. She specifically highlighted her desire to bolster the team's penalty corner attack, building on her form from the recent Asia Cup.
In the match against the Royals, the captain turned words into action. With the Pipers' primary drag-flicker, Deepika, off the pitch, Navneet stepped up and broke the deadlock. She expertly angled a low shot across Royals goalkeeper Madhuri Kindo from a penalty corner, giving her side a lead they would not relinquish.
A Tale of Contrasting Fortunes in Set-Pieces
The match underscored the importance of precision in penalty corner execution. While the Pipers capitalized on their opportunity through their skipper, the Ranchi Royals endured a frustrating evening in this department. Despite earning multiple set-piece chances, often engineered by the lively Rutuja Pisal—the star of last season's final—the Royals were plagued by poor trapping and failed injections, unable to convert any of their opportunities.
This profligacy proved costly early in the final quarter. SG Pipers' Teresa Viana broke through on goal, cleverly cut back inside past goalkeeper Bichu Devi, and tapped the ball towards the empty net. A desperate goal-line clearance attempt by Ishika Chaudhary ended with the ball hitting her foot and trickling over the line, sealing a 2-0 win for the visitors.
Solid Defence and Early Signs of Promise
Despite the Royals having the better of the early exchanges and creating chances, the SG Pipers' defence held firm. Goalkeeper Bansari Solanki made important saves, and the deep defensive unit resisted late pressure to secure a clean sheet. The victory provides a massive confidence boost for Navneet Kaur and her squad, offering early evidence that this season could be far more successful than the last. The team's ability to grind out a result, even when not at their fluid best in open play, bodes well for their campaign ahead.
