: Senior Women National: Hockey brings hope of a new future for players from Andaman and Nicobar #IndiaNEWS #Sports Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, Feb 23 (IANS) As the quarter-finals get underway on Thursday

@IndiaNEWS

Posted in: #IndiaNEWS #Sports

Senior Women National: Hockey brings hope of a new future for players from Andaman and Nicobar #IndiaNEWS #Sports
Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, Feb 23 (IANS) As the quarter-finals get underway on Thursday at the 13th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship 2023 here with Hockey Jharkhand, Hockey Punjab, Hockey Haryana, Hockey Bengal, Hockey Association of Odisha, Hockey Maharashtra, Hockey Madhya Pradesh and Hockey Karnataka making it to the final eight, aspiring hockey players from Hockey Andaman and Nicobar will leave for their home not disappointed but motivated to return as a stronger unit next year.
In only their second outing in this prestigious National Championships, the Islanders were up against strong teams like Hockey Maharashtra, Hockey unit of Tamil Nadu and Le Puducherry Hockey in pool H. Though they could not register a win, the players take home rich experiences from the event which was held on par with international matches. Hockey Andaman & Nicobar made their maiden appearance at the 11th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship, Kolkata last year.
Speaking of her experience here, 21-year-old Neelam Binita Kujjur said, I am so grateful to have gotten this opportunity to play at the National Championships. I come from a very difficult background in Andaman and Nicobar Island where my parents work as daily wagers. But that does not deter my passion for hockey, I want to showcase my talent so that I can get a permanent job and earn a good living for my family.
Neelam has played hockey since 2015 and during this period she has had to face tough times, she even had to drop out of school to ensure her younger sister can be educated. She works as a part-time cashier at a store in Port Blair to support her family but had to quit the job as they wouldnt give her leave to play the Nationals. I see hockey as an opportunity to create a new career. Many people dont know much about Andaman and Nicobar and through our participation in these Nationals, we want to draw more focus on the Island, she added.
Majority of the players come from various small villages across Andaman island such as Diglipur, Mayabundr, Hutbay, Baratang, Bambooflat and Ferrargung. The players train at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Velodrome Hockey Arena in Port Blair.
Sashita Bhengra is another player who is adamant about making her dream of playing hockey come true. My father was a hockey player as well, he used to play for Hockey Jharkhand and has represented them in the National Championships as well but due to circumstances he is now a daily wage worker, supporting our family of four however he can. This is the reason I play hockey, to fulfil my fathers dream of playing hockey at the highest level and to start earning enough to support the family.
Sashita has been working part-time as a saleswoman at a new mall in Andaman but she has set her goals to earn a better life and has chosen hockey as the way to do it.

Intraday stocks under 50 NSE India Twitter of India

Vote Up Vote Down

Login to post a comment!