Jamshedpur: Savita Punia nurtures sky high dreams for Women’s Hockey Team

Grandfather has always been my role model: Savita Punia

Jamshedpur, Aug 27: Indian women’s hockey team skipper, Savita Punia, nicknamed, ‘The Great Wall of India,’ said the team showed great courage in coming back to win the bronze medal in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games and that had made the entire team proud. Savita had marked her stamp of class when she saved eight penalty corners against Australia in the Tokyo Olympics.

Addressing a press meet at JRD Tata Sports Complex on Saturday, Savita said that it was important to stay positive at all times. Savita, who considered her grandfather as her role model, took to playing hockey in 2003-04. “At that time my mother was suffering from arthritis and the situation was such that I used to think of her and my family during matches as she needed me the most. While I was playing my brother and my father used to do household chores and for a year and a half, my thoughts on my mother and family lingered. Later, Sundar Sir suggested that I take up goalkeeping as a career and asked me to focus on this part of the game.”

Savita said that her parents always wanted her to concentrate on sports. “At one point of time, the cost of my kit was Rs 18 thousand while my father’s salary was Rs 11 thousand. This led me to harbor thoughts of quitting my game. But my mother asked me to do something for my father that would be of help to him. However, I consider myself lucky for I did not have to convince my family. He himself inspired me to pursue hockey. It is easy to start, one way or the other, but the real test begins when you try to move forward.”

The Indian women’s hockey team captain said that she started playing as a defender. “For about a year and a half, I made a place in the team as a defender. After this, my first coach, Sundar Singh Kharab told my father that my height was good and ideal for a goalkeeper and that I would definitely play for India as I moved on in the game as a goalkeeper. This is where my journey to become a goalkeeper started. Yes, I did become a goalkeeper but lacked a kit. Papa bought me my kit for Rs 18,000.”

Savita stated that she came from a middle class family. “I decided to become a goalkeeper, but I needed a kit. There were two kits on the ground, which were already booked, that is, the goalkeepers who were already practicing were using them. The coach said that if the kit is needed from the ground, then one will have to wait for a year. In such a situation, my father brought me a new kit. In 2003, the cost of that kit was 18 thousand rupees and Papa used to earn only 11 thousand rupees every month. That’s why wherever I am today is due to my family’s unrestrained support. Their contribution has been and continues to be the most. That made me focus decisively on hockey.”

Grandfather has always been my role model

Savita said that the decision to play hockey was taken suddenly. “It was my grandfather who was behind this decision. It was he who told that I will play hockey and only hockey.  Trials were on in Sirsa School for three sports – badminton, hockey and judo. I told grandfather that on the morrow, I was going to give trials for sports. On this he asked me which were the sports for which trials were being held.. I told the names of all three. He asked me to go in for hockey. And that is where my journey in hockey started.”

Savita said that what she had started with impunity had turned into passion conceded the star ‘Indian Wall.’ ”Papa always used to give me the example of grandfather. That’s why I always followed in his footsteps. It is for the path shown by him that I have been able to achieve success today. It has been a path of struggle but today I am happy because I did not falter in reaching my goal.”

Used to travel by bus from Sirsa to Delhi to play

“I am from Haryana. Think who would support a girl from Haryana to play hockey at that time and I was a bit shy. I felt uncomfortable in public places. Imagine how difficult it was to travel far with such a heavy goalkeeping kit at that time. I had to go from Sirsa to Delhi. We didn’t have much facilities then. We didn’t even own a car and naturally, had to travel by bus. Many times the bus driver and conductor used to ask for double fare after seeing the kit. On several other occasions, I was asked to keep my kit on the roof of the bus. They also used to pass comments.”

The focus is on the 2024 Olympics

Savita was selected in the Indian hockey team in 2006. Savita, who has played more than 225 matches for India thus far, said that her aim was to win a medal in the Olympics. To qualify for the 2024 Olympics, she is focusing on the upcoming Asia Cup. Savita has been selected as Best Goalkeeper on six occasions. in the Asia Cup national competition, while she has won a bronze medal in the Asian Games. Her aim now is higher.