From back of beyond to front and centre: How progressive thinking turned rural Jharkhand into India’s women’s hockey hotspot | Hockey News

Of the many hundreds of posters around the AstroTurf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi during the Asian Champions Trophy, there was one most prominent image – of India captain Savita Punia flanked three of her teammates, Nikki Pradhan, Salima Tete, and Sangita Kumari.The trio from Jharkhand drew the loudest cheers all through the tournament as thousands of hockey fans descended on the venue to watch the Indian team in action in an international hockey event in the city for the first time.
Nikki’s family turned up in big numbers to root for their household’s superstar – Jharkhand’s only two-time Olympian. As Sarina Pradhan, Nikki’s youngest ser put it: “Growing up in Khunti, we didn’t think we’d even go to Ranchi one day. But here we are, so many people from our family from far away are here to watch Nikki and the Indian team. This tournament was like a festival for us.”

Indeed. For aspiring players from the state, who were volunteers for the tournament, Salima is the favourite. She’d finish as the player of the tournament.
Chants of ‘Sangita, maaregi! Sangita, maaregi!’ rang out when the young striker scored. She’d finish as India’s leading goalscorer.
Nikki’s solid defence saw even tackles getting cheered as loud as a goal sometimes. She’d earn high praise from India coach Janneke Schopman: “For me, she is one of the best defenders in the world.”
Apart from the three, there is also Beauty Dungdung in the reserves, who is trying to make her way back to the squad from a serious injury. And in India’s Junior World Cup squad, currently in Chile, there are three more upcoming players from the state: Ropni Kumari, Mahima Tete – Salima’s ser – and Deepika Soreng.
Women’s hockey in Jharkhand is a tale of success, earned through the talent of athletes, their families, and hardworking coaches. Hockey is seen as a source of livelihood for many of the remote villages in the state and some of the common threads that emerge from these stories bust a few myths about women taking up sport.
A mural in Simdega. (Express Photo Vinayakk Mohanarangan)
Salima, Sangita and Nikki’s parents or neighbours never stopped backing their daughters to pursue this career. There is no discouragement from going out of their villages and playing a sport that involves wearing shorts. The ones working at the grassroots level ins that while there have been struggles, there has been support from the government whenever needed.
As Sangita’s father Ranjith Manjhi – who is walking around in his daughter’s training shorts – puts it: “No one ever told me my daughter should not play, the only thing people used to tell me was to make sure she got fed well even if it meant we couldn’t eat.”

Nikki, the defender
Soma Pradhan worked as a police constable while his wife and daughters worked in the field. The Pradhan sers had to do their bit to help with the farming, go to school, play after lunch, and then come back to the field before heading home.
At the Pilaul Middle School, in their village Hesal, was a teacher who encouraged girls to play hockey. Dasrath Mahato played a key role first in eldest ser Shashi Pradhan taking up the sport and Nikki too followed suit.
Nikki Pradhan’s ser Sarina and father Soma (R) and the inside of the house in Ranchi decorated with Nikki’s awards and such. (Express Photo Vinayakk Mohanarangan))
While Nikki took her time to take it seriously, inspiration came from within the family as cousin Pushpa made it to the India squad. When she was felicitated one day in the school, Nikki’s passion multiplied. She moved to the centre in Bariatu, and eventually in a few years made it to the national team.
“We didn’t have much knowledge in the early days,” Soma says. “The kids used to play barefoot, on kaccha roads, with sticks made of bamboo. But as Nikki’s level kept improving, Dasrath Master told us, ‘It’s my responsibility now to make her good’ and we couldn’t say no to a guru. He gave her shoes and sticks.”
Today, she is a stalwart for the Indian side. “Nikki, for me, is really special because when I joined the team she was a little bit quiet but now she is one of our leaders. She doesn’t say much, but when she speaks everyone lens,” Schopman tells The Indian Express. “She is tough as nails. She doesn’t always get the credit that she should. She is the ultimate team player.”
Even today in Hesal, among the 60-odd families, Sarina says maybe 7-8 have a television. Only the young ones even know how to use a smartphone. It was their family’s dream to go on a flight one day and Nikki made it happen recently as she took her siblings and extended family to Puri on a trip. It isn’t just her career that has taken flight in the last few years.
Salima, the midfield speedster
As one enters Simdega, there is an unmissable mural on the walls with paintings of kids playing and a greeting: “Hearty welcome to hockey nursery, Simdega.”
Salima is this nursery’s first Olympian. The player, who was once dubbed ‘The Ferrari’ former India coach Sjoerd Marijne got her speed running near the river in her village Barkichhapar.
Salima Tete’s father Sulakshan holding her POTM awards, parents Sulakshan and Subhani at their house (R) (Express Photo Vinayakk Mohanarangan))
Sulakshan Tete played hockey as a defender for many years and made sure his daughters picked up the sport too. “Her father only taught hockey in the early days with sticks made out of Sharifa trees,” says Subhani, Salima’s mother.
“She woke up at 4 am and used to run for hours near the river. And she used to play in tournaments where goats were given as prizes, she did well in the local events and won a lot. She then studied in a school in Tumdegi and from there played in tournaments in Latthakamhan, that’s where Manoj ji saw her.”
That would be a turning point. Manoj Konbegi, now the president of Hockey Simdega, knew immediately that there was something special in Salima. He took it upon himself to convince the Tetes to move to the training centre in Simdega.
It finally happened in 2013 and even then Salima had to wait for admission into the center. But Manoj told her to keep the faith, enroll in the school, and just train when she could. Eventually, a spot opened up in the academy.
“I try not to think about the early days because we have come so far from those difficult times,” Sulakshan says. “But all our thanks to Manoj ji, for convincing us that she belonged at the Simdega centre, her success now is due to that.”
Only 21, Salima is now an integral part of the Indian team. She was given a new role in the midfield in Ranchi and Schopman was pleased with how Salima adapted. “She’s great at going up and down the field. We know she has speed on the flanks, but in this tournament, she played centre mid and she did a great job in that role,” she says. “She has these unique feet for her speed, and ability to eliminate defenders to create opportunities.”
On the first day, Sulakshan came to watch Salima in Ranchi, she won the Player of the Match award against South Korea. The gifts swiftly made their way from the field to Sulakshan in the stands. “Wherever we turn, in Simdega as well as Ranchi, we see our daughter in the posters. I feel so proud,” he beams with the biggest smile possible.
Sangita, a fine young forward
To get to Sangita’s house in Karangaguri, a further 30 km away from Simdega, a car can barely fit on the winding, unpaved roads. A couple of kilometres later, a small congregation of houses appear where a satellite dish for TV stands out. It was installed so that Sangita’s family could watch her in action.
Unlike Salima and Nikki, Sangita’s family didn’t make the trip to Ranchi to watch her play. Ranjith inss that there is no specific reason, it’s just a long trip and he has to take care of the land. But his happiness at seeing her daughter shine is infectious.
Salima Tete’s father Sulakshan holding her POTM awards, parents Sulakshan and Subhani at their house (R) (Express Photo Vinayakk Mohanarangan))
“We used to leave early in the morning around 7 am to train and Sangita used to run to school and then run more near the river there. Her first hockey stick was made out of bamboo, our dad made it for us. Ek junoon tha usme,” Sangita’s ser Sarbati recalls.
It was at RC MS Karangaguri Middle School where Sangita is one of the many hockey players to emerge. Many have gone on to play at a high level and father Benedict Kujur is the man behind it.
He made a simple rule in 2003 – only those who bring a hockey stick can study in the school. He passed on this message to all the parents and guardians in a meeting. “He completely transformed women’s hockey in Jharkhand, in my opinion. He brought teams to play inter-drict, irrespective of whether they won or lost. He wanted his girls to learn hockey, not win or lose. He was just passionate about hockey,” Manoj says.
At 21, the forward seems destined for many years at the top of the game. “Sangita had a brilliant tournament,” says Schopman. “Someone so young with a lot of enthusiasm, who always plays with a smile. She has amazing stick skills. She is also very brave and has a great future if she keeps learning and working hard.”
Money was an issue in the early days to get hockey gear and the family had to borrow from wherever possible to make things work. But when asked if he now remembers the early struggles, Ranjit – who breaks into a smile after her every line – says: “Jab tak woh ek step aage badhte rahi, hum bhoolte gaye.” With every step she has taken forward, we keep forgetting the difficulties we faced in the past.
It perfectly sums up Jharkhand’s love story with hockey.