An Olympian’s eye, father’s advice: How Bichu Devi went from a reluctant goalkeeper to Savita Punia’s successor
Bichu Devi was in sharp form during a training session at the SAI centre in Bengaluru. “You want a break, Bichu?” asked Dave Smolenaars, the Indian women’s hockey team’s analytical coach. “No, coach,” the goalkeeper replied. Watching from the dugout was Savita Punia, India’s mainstay in goal for almost two decades, her foot in a…