Hockey News: Salima Tete reflects on her journey in the Indian Women's Team
The last few years have been some of the most memorable in the history of Indian hockey. The Indian women's hockey squad have impressed the fans by consistently emerging as the underdogs at the top-level tournaments
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Image credit: pia.images.co.uk Indian Women's hockey TeamSalima Tete, one of the youngest players on the Indian squad, has played a crucial role in the success of India over the last few years.
She was a part of the Indian contingent that won the Bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and is hoping to play an instrumental role in future hockey events.
Salima Tete is now back in her hometown of Simdega in Jharkhand after a two-month-long Euro tour competing at the FIH Pro Hockey League, FIH Women's Hockey World Cup and the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
After a sub-par performance at the FIH Women's Hockey World Cup, the Indian women's hockey squad was keen to earn a podium finish at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Salima Tete said, "We wanted to do well at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. There was no other option. We were sure we had to get a medal before returning to India. Kuch na kuch karna hi hai.”
Salima Tete began playing hockey on the grass grounds at an early age. She received complete support from her family and began playing at the junior nationals. Asunta Lakra and Nikki Pradhan proved to be important figures in her development toward Tete becoming a formidable defensive force for India.
Playing for India at the 2020 Olympic Games was one of the most monumental moments of her career. India narrowly missed out on the Bronze medal following a 4-3 defeat to Great Britain.
The 20-year-old Jharkhand native believes that meeting Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi after the Tokyo Olympics motivated the whole squad.
She said, "Meeting the PM was a very big thing for someone like me. All of us meeting the Prime Minister is a source of motivation so that we keep working hard and trying to achieve good results. It is also very encouraging for the younger players coming through the system."
The success of Salima Tete on the hockey field has also brought her village to the limelight and led to the development of better training facilities.
Salima Tete said, "Before the Tokyo Olympics, no one knew about our village and after I came back, the focus on our native place has increased a lot. We have people visiting us from different places, people recognising the village I come from; It is heart-warming."