Nisha Warsi's father was a tailor before a stroke in 2015 paralysed him and caused him to retire.
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The names of players from the Indian women’s hockey team who made the nation proud in the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics would be remembered for generations to come. This team of many first-time Olympics players have etched their names forever, writing a great comeback story. At the group stage, the team had lost their first three matches and knew they needed to win the next two matches if they wanted to have a fair chance to contest for the medal. And so they did. After winning two matches, the Indian women’s hockey team marched into the quarterfinals with their heads held high, and fire in their eyes. Even before the now sought after team left for the Olympics, a majority of people didn’t expect them to make it through to the knockout stages. But they did.
It was unfortunate that inspirational women like the ones in the Indian women’s hockey team gave it their all, but lost the bronze medal match to Great Britain in an extremely high scoring match. The team made history after qualifying for their first semi-final, shutting many who didn’t believe them.
In the quarter-finals, the girls took on the former champions Australia. Their game was different. It was synonymous with the kind of skill that the world associates with Indian hockey. The girls were far from their natural game– making this new pace and attitude their new style of playing. It was tough for Australia to read them, earning a 1-0 win for the Indian women’s team to make it to their maiden Olympic semi-final.
In a conversation with SportsLumo, Nisha Warsi got candid about the team’s Olympics journey, what could be changed and what the team looks forward to. Nisha, who has been a crucial support for this team of 16 comes from a humble background. Her mother worked in a foam factory to provide meals for the family after her father suffered a paralytic attack in 2015. Nisha was faced with a make or break situation when she set her eyes on the Olympics dream. She was fulfilling her father’s dream of seeing her play at the Games.
“My father always wanted to see me play for India. Even though he worked hard day in and day out to ensure three meals a day for my family, he never stopped me from playing hockey. He managed to keep aside a few hundred rupees that helped me travel for a tournament at the beginning.”
It was Nisha’s attitude on the field that got her a place in the Olympics squad.
While the women’s hockey team finished fourth at the Games, it was a remarkable improvement from the 2016 Rio Olympics where they finished where they started– 12th place. Nisha is hopeful for a bright future for this team that has a new attitude altogether.
The evidently sad yet hopeful team looks forward to the upcoming events. Just a year away are a few of the most important events and tournaments for the team. From the Commonwealth Games to Asian Games, the Indian women’s hockey team has a packed year ahead.
“We will now prepare for the upcoming tournaments”, Nisha said.
“The team is now hopeful that we will do better. We have a new confidence now. It will be a lot of hard work but we are prepared for the upcoming challenges.”
With the country backing these young girls, they are ready to move ahead. Most of the girls play for the country first, and then play to get their families out of their financial constraints. At times, the promise of a government job and a salary was enough for the girls to go forward with their athletic dreams. There is only one way forward from this point on– to add to the greatness these young girls have achieved.
