‘At 29, I play mom to 11 girls’

Indian women’s hockey team captain SURINDER KAUR says coach Kabir Khan in Chak De! India had it easy for it was a Bollywood movie but it is tough to inspire and lead a team in the real world. D KAUSHIK reports

It isn’t every day that she gets an opportunity to dress up and act coy like a newly-wed bride but even then people expect her to be in her lowers and loose tees the very next day. “That actually happened after my wedding that took place in December last year. People at my in-laws thought I’d come out in my sports shorts and tees,” says Surinder Kaur, captain of Indian women’s hockey team.

So when she’d to receive an award for being a young achiever for her contribution in sports by YFLO, she made sure she picked up her best pink anarkali embellished kurta and had her husband Nitin Sabharwal next to her. “Awards for women and that too in sports don’t come easy in our country. We need to prove ourselves at every point and struggle doubly,” says Kaur who had wait and struggle hard for almost 17 years for the achievement and recognition she is getting now.

“The sport I’m into makes you learn a lot and most importantly, it teaches you patience. By the time we reach the stage where I’m now, we struggle and see so much in life that we understand the value of our success well. We don’t let it rule over our heads rather I’m obliged for so much love and respect,” she says and continues that training girls of her team who mostly come from remote regions in our country too contributes in building up her patience.

“Though I’m 29 now, I’ve been playing mother to players who are almost the same age as me. Most girls, who are part of Indian hockey team, come from villages and they have a huge pressure to perform. They join the team against the wishes of their families so it is mandatory for them to make a name for themselves. No doubt, they are hardworking but aren’t properly trained at the state level so I’ve to be really patient and at the same time, be strict with them. I’ve to make them realise time and again that each of us have to perform like a team,” she explains in her typical Punjabi accent and proudly adds, “Only a few would know that Indian women’s hockey team is renowned across the world for its discipline and coordination. Wherever we travel, we set an example for the teams of other countries.”

Kaur, who hails from a small Punjab village, says she dreamt of doing something big in her life since she was 12 and hockey was the only option that she could see. “As a child, I used to visit fields with my father and saw how hard he worked 24×7 to make the two ends meet. It was then that I decided to do something for them and hockey was the only game that I saw being played in my school. I used to start my day at five in the morning and practice till nine. Even during my summer vacations, I’d start practicing from two in the afternoon and continue it till late evening. My parents always supported me during this period and it was the biggest motivator to me. There is definitely no shortcut to hardwork in this game, especially if you happen to be a woman and everything is not as easy as was shown in Chak de! India,” she laughs again.

She feels glad that Chak de! helped in giving recognition to women’s hockey but what after that? “Cricket will forever remain a religion in India but one thought things will change after the Shah Rukh-starrer but it hasn’t been the case. We need to go realise that women’s hockey team needs support and love from the people as that inspires us to move ahead and bring laurels to our nation,” she concludes.