India’s success against top-ranked nations this year has instilled a new self-belief,   feels skipper Rani Rampal.

She said it also helped the women’s hockey team shed its underdog tag.

It may be recalled that the Indian women’s hockey team won a historic silver at the 18th Asian Games and another silver at the Asian Champions Trophy this year.

They also finished at the quarterfinals at the World Cup in London and ended at the fourth place at the Commonwealth Games.

Speaking of the year ahead, Rani said the team’s ultimate goal will be to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Rani said the players will be reporting to the National Camp in the first week of January and begin preparations in this crucial Olympic cycle where India will be playing Olympic Qualifiers.