Much after their semifinal towards Haryana, at the same time as the shadows lengthened over the hockey stadium, the Jharkhand women refused to pack their kits and go away.
Most of them in tears, they had been overtaken by utter shock over their defeat in the Khelo India Youth Games right here, refusing to even converse with one another.
“They came here to win, but they got overwhelmed by the setting, the live broadcast perhaps,” an equally devastated Narendra Saini, the coach, mentioned. “They couldn’t process the speed and power of the Haryana girls either,” he added.
“I can tell you that they played at only 30 per cent of their natural game here,” he declared.
To their credit score, the women regrouped and got here again for the bronze medal playoff, profitable it 4-1.
For the 15 hockey gamers, who come largely from considered one of the most backward, Maoist-affected areas of Jharkhand, hardships and setbacks are a part of the panorama.
Yet, they don’t give any indication of their each day battles towards life as soon as they troop onto the turf.
Recently, they’d secured second place in the National Junior Women’s Hockey Championship. More importantly, they impressed with their ability and ardour, arriving in Panchkula as a crew to look at.
“Deficiencies don’t create champions. These tribal girls could come this far because they are habituated to hardships, to fight,” the coach defined.
The Jharkhand Sports Association retains them in a camp however gives a meagre weight-reduction plan of Rs 170 per day. During the pandemic, although, the women had been despatched dwelling the place they subsisted on rice, salt and onion. They labored in paddy fields to assist the household.
“Undernourishment is not the only issue. For the past three years, I’ve been seeking proper supply of hockey sticks and balls. In their absence, they practice with broken or borrowed sticks,” Saini, a Dronacharya Award recipient, who has been teaching the women towards odds, rued.
Another problem is the women don’t perceive English. “They are at a loss as referees speak only in English,” he added.
Names like Nikki Pradhan and Salima Tete, additionally from the identical tribal belt, who made it to the Olympic hockey crew, encourage the women. The distinction is, their expertise was matched with finest coaching offered by centres created by the company sector, like the Tata group.
But for the others, like Sanjana Horo, Rupni Kumari, Nikki Kullu, Deepti Kullu, and the very younger Bano Horo, it’s nonetheless a grind. They refused to make eye contact regardless of repeated efforts. “They feel embarrassed of their background,” Saini mentioned matter-of-factly.
“SAI and KIYG are doing their best to promote talent; but state governments need to do a lot more,” he argued.
‘We can’t put push these gamers past a degree. It could end in harm in the absence of an excellent weight-reduction plan consisting of sufficient proteins, minerals and nutritional vitamins. To stretch bodily and psychological endurance gamers require a nutritious diet for physique and coaching for thoughts,” Saini revealed.
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