SS Shreekumar
AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: When you turn your attention to the technical area in front of the HOPS FC dugout, you cannot miss a lanky personality shouting instructions and urging the players to ‘come on’ and exert pressure on the opponents. 

And as HOPS made history by winning the first-ever AIFF U17 Women’s Youth League in Narainpur, Chhattisgarh, the gangling figure of coach Ravi Kumar Punia performing the ‘Surya Namaskar’ on the RKM Football Academy turf was indeed eye-catching. His joy knew no bounds as this was the second success for him and the team this year. Punia had mentored the HOPS senior team to victory in the 2025-26 Indian Women's League 2 in May this year, earning them promotion to IWL 2026-27.

As you watch him, you feel he might have been a footballer himself and wonder whether he was a defender or a goalkeeper. “Yes, I was a central defender for Rajasthan United in the 2021-22 I-League season. I also represented Haryana in the Santosh Trophy in 2023,” revealed Punia.

Talking of Rajasthan football, one can hardly miss their long, high-ball approach to football from the days of the Rajasthan Armed Constabulary, Bikaner, when the legendary Magan Singh and his brother Chain Singh dazzled like none other.

“Exactly, that has been my approach all along and in every team I have coached. It helps keep the pressure off and launch quick counter-attacks to take the opposition by surprise. If you see the record in this tournament itself, most of our goals have come from long shots or lobs, including in the final,” added Punia, who hails from Haryana and is employed with the Employees' State Insurance Corporation of the Government of India.

On his involvement with the Delhi team, he said that he completed his AFC A-Licence course in January 2026. “I got an offer from HOPS, and I took it up. It has been a wonderful journey so far. The team is owned by Mr Sanjay Yadav, a Superintending Engineer in MCD, Delhi, who is passionate about football. He does everything possible to provide opportunities to youth from rural areas or border states. As such, most of the HOPS players are from Alakhpura and Mangali villages of Haryana. He has given me a free hand, and all he wants is for me to form a good team and compete well, win or lose,” he added.

“The players are good and determined to do well. There is a lot of talent at this age. Nita, Zinc, and Kickstart were all good teams and played well. Overall, the tournament was very well organised. The AIFF has instituted this tournament for the first time. Hopefully, next season it will be longer, and we will have more matches,” he said, speaking about the tournament.

“The arrangements were excellent. But heavy rains did not permit the players to perform as well as they are capable of. Our players adjusted themselves very well. The long-ball tactics paid off for us, especially in the final. We have played in all seasons and weather conditions; whether it is hot, cold or rainy does not matter,” Punia added.

“Women’s football has been doing phenomenally well in the country. All three of India's women's teams qualified for their Asian Cups in 2026. Now that we have more tournaments, players have chances to gain more experience. We must now aim higher and achieve something bigger. It is eminently possible in the near future,” Punia concluded.