Ankit Balhara is the husband of Savita Punia, the goalkeeper and captain of the Indian women's hockey team.
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Renowned for her skills as a goalkeeper in the Indian women’s field hockey team, Savita Punia is one of the prominent players in the team. Originating from Jodhkan village in Haryana’s Sirsa district, she was born on July 11, 1990. Her academic pursuits led her to get admitted to a better school in the district headquarters, where she was inducted into the sports academy. It was her grandfather, Mahinder Singh, who encouraged her to play the sport and soon after, she joined the Hisar Center of the Sports Authority of India. She was initially mentored by Sunder Singh Kharab and then by Azad Singh Malik. The defining moment in her career came when her father’s investment in her hockey kit translated into a serious passion for the sport.
In 2007, it became evident that Savita Punia was going to be a superstar when she earned her spot in the national camp at Lucknow, and by the next year, she was picked to represent the nation at the international arena in Europe. The 2011 marked her international debut, and she has since represented India in over 250 matches. She began her journey with participation in the Junior Asia Cup in 2009. She then played a decisive role in India’s bronze medal victory in the Eighth Women’s Asia Cup in Malaysia in 2013, where her penalty shoot-out saves were crucial. At the prestigious Asian Games 2014, Savita guided the team to a bronze medal performance in Incheon.
Her excellence in the sport was recognized when she received the Baljit Singh Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2015, along with a cash prize. Her remarkable performance in 2016 against Japan, where she single-handedly maintained India’s lead, was a key factor in India’s qualification for the Rio Olympics, the first in 36 years. Her stellar performance in the 2018 Asia Cup not only won her the ‘Best Goalkeeper Award’ but also secured her team’s participation in the World Cup in London. Savita also played a key role in India’s 6th place finish at the Hawke’s Bay Cup in New Zealand and in securing victory over Chile in the final match of the Women’s Hockey World League Round 2.
Ankit Balhara is the husband of Savita Punia, the goalkeeper and captain of the Indian women’s hockey team.
No, Savita Punia doesn’t have kids.
Savita Punia and Ankit Balhara married in a private ceremony held at Park Plaza Hotel in Chandigarh. They are in a long-distance relationship as Ankit is an NRI. Ankit is a software engineer who is originally from Sonepat, Haryana, and presently lives in Canada.
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