Prabhjot Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 2

One of the most accomplished woman hockey player, Surinder Kaur of Shahbad Markanda, has pinned all her hopes for a job in Haryana government on Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. The mercurial forward and captain of Indian women’s hockey team for more than a year now, Surinder has not only represented the country in 186 internationals, but also helped the national team to the podium in four of the seven tournaments under her captaincy.

She is one of the proud trainees of Dronacharya award winner Baldev Singh who brought Shahbad Markanda on the international hockey map.

“I am perhaps the only player from Haryana, who has represented the State for more than 10 years, leading its team to gold medal win in four of the five National Games. While many other sportsmen and women, who never represented Haryana, have been honoured and given jobs by the Haryana government, I sometime wonder why my claims are being ignored. I am sure it is neither any gender bias nor any game bias,” says 27-year-old Surinder Kaur who comes from a lower middle class family. She says that she has full faith in the Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda who had promised to make her a Deputy Superintendent of Police after she is chosen to lead India.

“I am now captain of Indian team. I am happy that the country won gold or silver medals in four of the seven tournaments played under my captaincy. Though I am working as a class III head clerk in Railways, I have always made myself available to the State for representation in National championships.

Honoured with Arjuna award early this year, Surinder received the Bhim award in 2000. In 20 national level championships she represented Haryana, the team won 12 gold medals and three silver medals. It was under her captaincy that India won the Asia Under-18 gold in 2000. She was also a member of gold medal team of the inaugural Afro-Asian games as well as fifth Senior Asia Cup Championship. In the 2006 Commonwealth Games, she was a member of the silver medal winner Indian team.

Her most cherished performance was when she led India to victory podium in Russia in the inaugural Champions Challenge early this year. “I am happy that some other hockey players, both men and women, have been given employment as Deputy Superintendent of Police by the Haryana government. My achievements in the field of sports are certainly more than any of my contemporaries as I additionally continued to represent my state throughout my career,” adds Surinder Kaur hoping that the Haryana government would live up to its promise given to her a couple of years ago.