Savita Punia Becomes Most-Capped Indian Women's Hockey Player

Why in the News?

Veteran goalkeeper Savita Punia became the most-capped Indian women's hockey player in history after making her 321st senior international appearance during India’s 17-1 victory over Indonesia at the Asian Games 2026, surpassing former forward Vandana Katariya.

Key Features / Major Points:

Historic Milestone: Hailing from Sirsa district in Haryana, the 36-year-old custodian reached 321 international caps to take the top spot in Indian women's hockey history.

National Honors: Conferred with the prestigious Padma Shri award (becoming only the sixth woman hockey player to receive it) and the Arjuna Award in 2018.

Career Highlights:

FIH Goalkeeper of the Year: 3-time recipient (2020, 2021, 2023).

Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Vice-captain of the team that achieved a historic 4th-place finish.

Commonwealth Games 2022: Captained India to a bronze medal win in Birmingham.

FIH Nations Cup 2022: Led India to win the inaugural tournament title.

Static GK Facts:

Hometown of Savita Punia: Sirsa, Haryana.

Governing Body for Hockey in India: Hockey India (Established in 2009).

Padma Shri in Women's Hockey: Savita Punia is the 6th female hockey player from India to receive the Padma Shri.

One-Liner Quiz (All Competitive Exams):

Q: Who has become the most-capped player in the history of Indian women's hockey?

A: Savita Punia (321 caps)

Q: Whose record did Savita Punia break to become the most-capped Indian women's hockey player?

A: Vandana Katariya

Q: How many times has Savita Punia won the FIH Goalkeeper of the Year award?

A: Three times (2020, 2021, 2023)