Veteran goalkeeper Savita Punia believes India’s FIH Nations Cup triumph has given the women’s hockey team the confidence to challenge the world’s best and finish on the podium at the upcoming World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium, which begins on August 15. India head into the showpiece event on the back of their Nations Cup title, where they beat a competitive field to claim their first major international gold in a long time.

"Winning the FIH Nations Cup was a big achievement because all the top teams were there. It was a competitive tournament, and coming out on top gave us a huge boost and winning a gold medal after a long time has lifted the team's morale and belief," Savita told JioStar. The veteran feels India's performances against top sides in the FIH Pro League have also shown that the team is capable of competing with the best.