BHUBANESWAR 16-Jan-2007 72
Orissa lost one more promising hockey talent on Monday but the State Government continued to remain a mute spectator. New woman international Binita Xess, who was badly in need of a job, has been lured away by South Eastern Railway (SER). Binita who shot to limelight by her fine performance in the Doha Asian Games, left for Ranchi from where she will go to SER headquarters at Kolkata.
Binita, who hails from a poor tribal family, is most likely to be handed over a plum posting there. Besides SER, Southern and Central Railways were also interested in her. But the Orissa-based East Coast Railway is learnt to have turned down her request for employment.
It should be a double delight considering the fact that apart from possessing immense hockey talent, Binita had secured first class in the matriculation examination. She was the first trainee to achieve the feat in the 20-year history of the Government-run Panposh Sports Hostel (PSH) here.
Hailing from Mangarkunda village in Balishankara block of Sundargarh district where vehicular traffic and electricity are yet to reach, Binita was drawn to hockey as the game in her area was a way of life. Fourth among the five siblings, Binita completed her primary education at Phalsa Primary School before she joined PSH in 2001 to pursue hockey as a career.
She lost no time in catching the attention of PSH coaches and went on to become a regular member of State sub-junior, junior and senior teams.Her career got the all-important boost last year when she joined the National camp at Lucknow. Impressive by her talent, National selectors promptly picked Binita for the Asian Games.
The Orissa girl later played two four-nation tournaments in Japan and South Korea. On her chances of survival in international hockey, Binita says endurance, discipline, confidence and skill can keep her afloat for long. She even nurses the dream of leading the country, but is in no hurry and wants to gain more experience and exposure.
Her PSH coach Amulya Nanda Bihar feels she could be the ideal replacement for the aging skipper Jyoti Sunita Kullu. PSH’s history of grooming hockey internationals and subsequently loosing them is not new. Big names include former India skipper Ignace Tirkey, his younger brother Prabodh, Vikash Toppo, William Xalxo, Sunil Ekka, Roshan Minz, India women captain Jyoti Sunita Kullu, Nilima Kujur, Subhadra Pradhan, Binita Toppo, Ranjit Barla, Rinakanti Ekka and Sarita Hanuman.
