Ranchi Royals duo Beauty Dung Dung and Sangita Kumari eager to enthrall home crowd in HIL

As Ranchi Royals prepare for the Hero Women's Hockey India League (HIL) second season kicking off on December 28, two rising talents from Jharkhand are brimming with anticipation to don their local team's colors right in their hometown.

Sangita Kumari and Beauty Dung Dung burst onto the international scene with their India debuts in 2021, and they've kept climbing since. The pair has shone in key global tournaments, with Sangita netting 30 goals and Beauty adding 6. They're now ready to launch into this fresh chapter alongside their home side, Ranchi Royals, in the Hero HIL.

Looking ahead eagerly to the tournament, Kumari-who helped India snag bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games-shared: "It's a proud feeling to play at my home ground. It's always

a special occasion to play in Ranchi. Even more so now that I'm representing the Ranchi Royals. The audience here loves hockey and that makes it exciting for the players as well. For me, personally, it'll be extra special because my family will come to watch the matches as well. "

Dung Dung mirrored that excitement about playing for her home franchise. "Whenever we play a game in Ranchi, it's always very crowded because there are so many hockey fans in the city. It's our home ground, so we will do whatever it takes to win. "

The midfielder also praised the Hero HIL's role in boosting young talent by letting them compete with elite global stars.

"Sometimes, as juniors, you're left wondering when you'll get a chance to play for the senior team, but now this league gives junior players a chance to play with the top players from around the globe. If we raise the standards at the highest level, the grassroots system is bound to follow.

Women's hockey is on the rise and we want to take it even further. The Hero HIL is a great platform to do that, even for the juniors and the state players. It's a great learning experience for them - to watch and learn, not only from the women's matches but also the men's games," Dung Dung reckoned.

Key Gains from Teaming Up with International Stars

Both athletes highlighted the priceless lessons from mingling with top overseas pros to sharpen their skills. "There's a lot that we can learn from the foreign players and there are things they will learn from us as well. So, we'll pick their brains on some basics and try to learn new skills," said Kumari.

"Initially, we would be a bit scared but now we approach the international players without much hesitation. When there are moments when we can't execute a skill or convert a chance, we get irritated. So, we ask them for their advice and they're happy to share their suggestions. In fact, they also ask questions sometimes," her teammate noted.

They're especially pumped to team up with Argentina's Agustina Albertario and Agostina Alonso-veterans who earned silver at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and bronze at the 2024 Paris Games-as fellow Ranchi Royals.

Kumari voiced their shared respect for the Argentine duo: "The Argentine players come in with plenty of experience, especially Agustina Albertario and Agostina Alonso. They're great players. I'm excited to share the dressing room with them and play alongside them. "

"They're a bit older than us and have played more matches, so they have a lot more experience. That's something we can learn from. The more we interact with them, the better it will be for us," Dung Dung added.

Ranchi Royals also boast promising Indian youngsters like Sakshi Rana and Kanika Siwach, fresh from the recent Junior Women's World Cup in Chile. Offering tips to these newcomers, Kumari stressed embracing the joy of the sport: "For the young players that are coming into the squad, they have to keep doing what they're doing and enjoy the game. That's the most important thing. My only advice to them would be to back their technique and skills, and give it their best shot. "

The Hero Women's Hockey India League launches December 28, with hosts Ranchi Royals facing SG Pipers. Catch all Hero Hockey India League matches live on Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 3, and DD Sports, plus streaming on Waves and the Hockey India League YouTube channel.