New Delhi, April 5 -- When Bichu Devi Kharibam was a younger, upcoming hockey goalkeeper playing through the junior ranks, she was hot tempered, ready for a confrontation on the field, eager to give it back as good as she gets. Over time, the anger has tempered. On field flare-ups have given way to off-field, post-match discussions.

"No goalkeeper would want the opposite side to score," says the now 25-year-old about her maturity as a player. "But we make sure we discuss that (the goal) post the game as a team. That's happened (for me) since I became a senior (player)."

Kharibam was part of the Indian women's hockey team that earlier in March qualified for the World Cup, which will be held in Belgium and the Netherlands from 15 August, ...