These girls, from Jharkhand and Odisha’s tribal areas, are being trained in hockey to play for India. 

Girls from hitherto backward areas are thrilled at the prospect of representing India in hockey. Efforts are being made via public-private partnerships in both Odisha and Jharkhand, and recent times have seen girls from these areas, such as Salima Tete and Nikki Pradhan, play for India. Facilities include skill development, career counselling and personality development centre to groom the youth, particularly sportspersons to meet industry standards for employment. 

Last year, Nikki Pradhan from Khunti and Salime Tete from Simdega, both in Jharkhand, played for India in the Tokyo Olympics. Amidst Covid, this brought cheer to the entire state. For Nikki, it was the second time she took part in the Olympics – having represented India in the 2016 Rio games also, where she became the first woman hockey player to represent this tribal heartland.

On the other hand, Salima was the third hockey player from Simdega district to represent India in the Olympics – Michael Kindo having played at Munich (1972) and Sylvanus Dungdung at Moscow (1980). This year, five young women hockey players of Jharkhand selected for a 3 week talent exchange programme in the USA, continuing their training as they aspire to play for India.