SAVITA

General
FITNESS FOR TOKYO
She believes the Indian national team has prioritised improving their fitness ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. "Earlier, we were more about skill than fitness but seeing that we weren't getting the results that we desired by implementing that method of preparation, we realised the importance of fitness. If we look at the likes of Germany and the Netherlands, we see that fitness is one of their best attributes, which is why they can play at a speed that hockey these days demands of its players. To play speed hockey, improving fitness is a must. Sometimes, we don't play hockey but just work out at the gym and run." (olympicchannel.com, 24 Mar 2020)

INSPIRATION
Her grandfather has been one of her biggest supporters since she started playing hockey. "My grandfather used to like hockey very much, but no one from my family had played any sport. I remember when I first played for India, he heard that the news was in the newspaper, and at 67 years of age, he decided to learn to read. After a year or so, he learned how to read and then made me sit with him and read the news out loud. It was a really great moment, and the biggest inspiration for me." (yourstory.com, 01 Jun 2020)