India's teen hockey sensation Rutuja Dadaso opens up on her India call-up, debut experience & more

Rutuja Dadaso was in tremendous form in the Hockey India League 2025, she helped the Odisha Warriors win the title.

Satara’s 22-year-old sensation, Rutuja Dadaso, grabbed the headlines with some impressive performances in the Women’s FIH Pro League 2024-25. In her maiden senior international tournament, she scored two goals in five matches, playing a key role in the Indian women’s team’s success during the Bhubaneswar leg at Kalinga Stadium.

Rutuja was handed her debut in India’s second match against England, in which she also bagged her first-ever goal to aid India in their remarkable comeback. Speaking about her experience, she said, “It was my first match, so I was a little nervous and anxious, but the team took care of me. It is not easy to score a goal on debut, so that gave me a lot of confidence, which helped me in the tournament.”

Also Read: Top 15 players with most goals in all-time men’s hockey history

She also spoke about how the senior players from the squad helped her beat the pre-match nerves. “I was able to do this only because of the team’s support. Before the match, everyone told me to play openly and not be stressed. So the team’s support and staff helped me deal with the pressure.”

“I thought to myself that I have practiced a lot in the camp, and I have to do what I have learned. My goal was to play simple hockey so I didn’t complicate anything too much,” she added.

Also Read: Women’s FIH Pro League 2024-25: Updated points table and top 10 goalscorers

While sharing her experience in the tournament, Rutuja also highlighted Chief Coach Harendra Singh’s role in her preparations. “He (Harendra Singh) didn’t give me any pressure. He told me I am skilled and I have what it takes to do well. His main advice for me was to enjoy the game. He is a great coach.”

Rutuja was in tremendous form in the Hockey India League 2025 and helped her side, Odisha Warriorz, lift the title by scoring a brace in the 2-1 win over JSW Soorma Hockey Club in the grand finale. Upon her national team call-up, she said, “I called my home first when I saw the squad list. My family was happy, and I explained to them what a good opportunity for me this was.”

Also Read: Men’s FIH Pro League 2024-25: Updated points table and top 10 goalscorers

When asked about her training focus, Rutuja shared, “My primary goal is to improve my finishing, particularly my backhand shots. I realized that I had a few scoring opportunities but couldn’t convert them, so I need to work on that diligently.”

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