Deepika and Poonam deserve recognition

They served India for two decades. Their role in Indian women hockey climbing from world rank thirteen to present ninth  is significant and vital. However, India’s these two top hockey stars — Deepika Thakur and Poonam Rani, a bit before that Ritu Rani —  have faded into oblivion recently like any other run of the mill player. They bade adieu silently, without anybody taking note of it. However, their services entail proper recognition. For instant, both deserving athletes are yet to get Arjuna. While we congratulate every other awardees, we are also duty bound to highlight achievements of these two stalwarts.

 

Its time the mistake is corrected

Deepika and Poonam were active on the international arena till 2018 before bidding adieu to their one and half decade long international career.

Deepika has unique feat of appearing in all major tournaments that had been held so far under the aegis of the Asian Hockey Federation since 2006. She is the lone female player to have achieved this kind of feature, which involves a great deal of  longevity.

Deepika had a long career, not matched by any Indian women hockey player. She started her career in 2003 participating in the Junior category tournaments. She made her presence felt when selected for a tournament in Japan in 2004. She retired from international hockey in 2018 after winning gold at Jakarta.

It was heartening she was declared Best Women Hockey Player by Hockey India in its second Annual Awards, and was presented Rs.25 lac purse.

Poonam Rani, who had been in the team since late 2000s, could not get any such recognition.

Poonam Rani was part of Indian teams that took part from 2008 to 2018, earning about 190 caps. She was not considered after 2018 Commonwealth Games. By then she had figured in three CWGs.

A selfless distributor of ball, the forward set up many goals for others while she herself also netted many times.

Her most important goal of course was during the semifinal of the 2012 Junior Asia Cup. Her solitary goal here gave India 1-0 win over Korea and with that India qualified for the 2013 Jr World Cup.

Indian women hockey team went on to win bronze at the 2013 Jr World Cup at Monchengladbach, a first major medal for India in such a top grade FIH tournament.

She was also part of that epoch-making tournament, at that time she had already played 90 matches at senior level.

Poonam also led India in the U-18 AHF Cup and 4-Nation Shastri Cup, both in 2011.

When she was dropped after Commonwealth Games in 2018, her international caps stood as 195.

Had she been allowed to play one more tournament or Series, she would have quietly achieved the rare milestone of 200 caps.

She was one of the four seniors, by age and caps, to Sushila Chanu, who was selected to lead India at Rio Olympics.

Be it Poonam Rani or Deepika Thakur, they don’t grumble or complain or have built any contact with media to highlight their feats.

We have not heard of any features on them.

But facts, stats, reality stands in good stead with them.

It is hoped the powers that be underline their unique contribution towards upliftment of women’s hockey, which is at present at its best ever FIH ranking — 9.