Sunelita continued to perform admirably after being accepted, and as a result, she was ultimately chosen for the Junior Women's Indian hockey team.
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The 16-year-old forward, Sunelita Toppo, is one of the rising stars representing the Indian hockey team. She has made significant progress in the ranks of the Indian Junior Women’s Hockey Team in recent years. In April 2023, she took a major step in her development when she was selected to attend the Hockey India Senior Women National Coaching Camp. Sunelita hails from Kukuda village in Sundargarh, a mineral-rich district of Odisha that is home to several tribes with a shared passion for hockey. It’s notable that 90% of Odisha’s hockey players come from Sundargarh. Therefore, it was natural for Sunelita to pick up the hockey stick at the age of eight.
In an interview, Sunelita said, “Most of the people in my village play hockey and they even organize local hockey tournaments there, which I found fascinating and eventually decided to take up the sport at the age of eight.” She added, “However, I never thought of becoming a professional player back then and played hockey just to enjoy the game.” Despite originating from a modest background, her mother being a housewife and her father being a farmer, Sunelita did not give up on her ambition to play for the Indian hockey.
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Although it was challenging due to financial limitations, her family was by her side the entire time. She eventually succeeded in getting a spot at the Sundargarh-based SAI Instruction Centre (STC), which offered residential instruction and coaching for a variety of sports, including hockey. “Due to financial constraints, I had to face numerous issues in my journey of becoming a professional hockey player, but my family believed in me, they backed me and also provided moral support throughout which is why I am at this stage today,” said Sunelita.
Sunelita continued to perform admirably after being accepted, and as a result, she was ultimately chosen for the Junior Women’s Indian hockey team. She continued to work hard and strive for perfection, which led to her selection for the Hockey India Senior Women National Coaching Camp. Sunelita attributes her achievement to the guidance she received from her coach. She said, “My coach told me that my game is good but it’s the hard work that makes a person successful. So, that’s the advice I’m following till now and that’s why I always aim to work hard and give my hundred percent in anything I do.”
Sunelita intends to compete for India in the Olympics and bring home a gold medal for her nation. She is a prime example of how young athletes can fulfill their potential despite financial limitations with dedication, determination, and family support. On being asked about her ultimate goal as a professional player, Sunelita said, “I want to play in the Olympics and win a gold medal for my country.”
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