K. ARUMUGAM

Active life span of hockey players in the synthetic turf era is increasingly coming down. However, some players with their commitment and eye on fitness defy the norm. In Indian women’s hockey sphere, on the context of the coming Asia Cup, about 10 percent of players who figured  in this genre, catches our attention.

So far 106 Indian women hockey players have appeared in the Asia Cup. Out of this, 11 players made hat-trick of appearance.  Besides, two players – former captain Surinder Kaur and present one Savita – have done one better. Surinder has appeared in four consecutive Asia Cup while Savita will be making the milestone in a week’s time when the 10th Asia Cup opens in Muscat.

(l-r) Deepika Thakur, Rani Rampal and Vandana Katariya, some of the stars epitome of fitness and commitment 

Surinder played her first Asia Cup in 1999 and the fourth one 14 years later in 2013. Savita is Asia Cup started under Surinder’s leadership in 2009 and is now on its 13th year.

Rani Rampal too played her first Asia Cup, like Savita, in 2009 but is undergoing recouperation from injury and thus was unfit for the Muscat edition. She has just missed our the Savita-Surinder’s milestone in an otherwise impeccable career.

Former women hockey stars Mamta Kharab and Surinder Kaur (r)

Other stars who played the Asia Cup thrice are

1. Mamta Kharab
2. Jasjeet Kaur
3. Subhadra Pradhan
4. Ritu Rani
5. Deepika Thakur
6. Rani Rampal
7. Saba Anjum

The four players who will be making their hat-trick now are

1. Vandana Katariya
2. Sushila Chanu
3. Deep Grace Ekka
4. Rajani Etimarpu

Lifespan of the above eleven stars too run more than decade. These are extraordinary athlete who do everything needed to keep themselves fit and competitive.

13 out of 106 players are having a hockey life span more than a decade, that is one out of 9 Indian women hockey player turns out to be an epitome of longevity.

Its amazing story, indeed