Last Update: February 23, 2023, 17:23 IST
Andaman and Nicobar Islands women’s hockey team
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands team has won many hearts with their determination to succeed at the prestigious National Championship despite many personal struggles.
Quarter final has started today in 13th hockey India Senior Women’s National Championship 2023: Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, Hockey Jharkhand, Hockey Punjab, Hockey Haryana, Hockey Bengal, Hockey Association of Odisha, Hockey Maharashtra, Hockey Madhya Pradesh and Hockey Karnataka make it to the last eight, Hockey Andaman’s ambitions The players and Nicobar will head home not dejected but motivated to come back next year as a stronger unit.
In their second encounter in this prestigious national championship, the Islanders were up against strong teams like Hockey Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu’s hockey unit and Le Puducherry Hockey in Pool H. The event which was held on a par with international matches. Hockey Andaman and Nicobar made its first appearance in the 11th Hockey India Senior Women’s National Championship 2021 held at Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh last year.
Talking about her experience here, 21-year-old Neelam Binita Kujjur said, “I am very grateful that I got a chance to play in the National Championship. I come from a very difficult background in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands where my parents worked as daily wage workers. But that doesn’t stop my passion for hockey, I want to showcase my talent so that I can get a permanent job and earn a living for my family.”
Neelam has played hockey since 2015 and faced tough times during this period, even leaving school to educate her younger sister. She works as a part-time cashier in a store in Port Blair to support her family, but had to quit because they would not give her leave to play the Nationals. “I see hockey as an opportunity to build a new career. Not many people know much about Andaman and Nicobar and through our involvement in these citizens, we want to bring more attention to the island.”
Most of the players come from various small villages in the Andaman Islands such as Diglipur, Mayabunder, Hutbay, Baratang, Bambooflat and Ferrargang. Players train at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Velodrome Hockey Arena in Port Blair.
Sashita Bhengra is another player who is determined to make her dream of playing hockey a reality. “My father was also a hockey player, he used to play for Hockey Jharkhand and represented them in the national championship as well, but due to circumstances he is now a daily wage laborer who can support our family of four. That’s why I play hockey to fulfill my father’s dream of playing hockey at the highest level and to start earning enough to support the family.”
Sashita is working part-time as a saleswoman in a new mall in Andaman, but has set her goals to earn a better living and has taken up hockey. “Today there is a lot of potential for hockey in the country and players doing well at the domestic level are also earning good jobs, that is my first target. There has been more awareness for hockey in the island after the Indian teams did well in the Olympics in Tokyo.
New Madhu Prith D’Costa, the 26-year-old captain expressed his team’s undying spirit and eagerness to take his game to the next level. “These Nationals are a great opportunity for us as a team. We want to give our best and Hockey India has left no stone unturned to facilitate this, the experience of the National Championships is completely different from last time, it seems that we are now playing international matches. We need to capitalize on this opportunity to impress the selectors and make our way into the national hockey team.”
The captain further added, “Even though we could not win the match here, I know that my team has won many hearts by the attention of many players and officials of other teams on our performance. They are all aware of the challenges we face. face at home and we are confident that we will do well in the national championships in the years to come.Hockey India is now focusing on smaller teams from union territories like ours and this opportunity they have provided I will help this sport grow and more kids take it up.”
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