12-May-2009 101
Tribal woman players from Sundargarh district of Orissa have made their presence visible in national hockey squads again.
Three girls, including Sulochana Kisan from Rourkela-based Panposh Sports Hostel (PSH) have found places in the senior national team. The other two are former PSH inmates Binita Toppo (defender) and Mukta Prava Barla (left-half).
For reasons other than selection matter, team regulars Poonam Toppo, Binita Xess and Subhadra Pradhan were ignored. Had they been selected, half of the team would have been from the PSH.
Sulochana is emerging as a promising talent after catching the attention of national camp coach Y S Chauhan. According to PSH hockey coach Amulyananda Bihari, Sulochna stands out for her ability to adapt to any situation and position.
The selection of Sunita Lakra, who is comfortable both in centre-half and forward positions, along with forward Rosalin Dungdung in the India under-21 junior squad has come as a little surprise for PSH coaches.
The immediate itinerary of the senior team include a five-match test series at Surrey, Canada (May 29 to June 4), the 4-Nation Spur Cup Tournament at Durban, South Africa (June 3-6) and the eight-nation Champions Challenge-II Tournament at Kazar, Russia (June 21-27). The under-21 team will play the 16-nation Junior World Cup at Boston, USA (August 3-16).
Observers of the stick game feel sorry for custodian Suniti Kispotta, who made her international foray in end of 2007, but since then she has been attending national camps without being lucky.
Suniti was called for the senior camp at Bangalore but after announcement of the team on May 3 was sent back to the ongoing under-18 camp at Lucknow. Besides Suniti, the Lucknow camp is being attended by Binita Kindo, Sasmita Kujur and Anupa Barla, all from the PSH.
PSH coach-in-charge Bijay Lakra views these tribal girls as extraordinarily talented and feels they need proper guidance to develop further.
