BHUBANESWAR 22-Dec-2006 65
Doha Asiad bronze medallist and India women’s hockey right-winger Vinita Xess arrived to a warm welcome on Wednesday. The 19-year-old trainee of Panposh Sports Hostel was received at the local railway station by her coaches, hostel residents and enthusiasts.
She was felicitated by Rourkela ADM Krishna Kumar at his office before the cheering inmates took her to the hostel in a procession. Speaking on her Doha experience, Vinita appreciated the co-operation she received from her senior teammates and the Indian Hockey Federation.
Inspired by the Asiad performance, she is eyeing gold in the next edition. Before the Doha Games, the promising forward took a matriculation certificate with first division, a first for a girl in the 20-year existence of the hockey hostel. Vinita will now join the hostel’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) for girls and wait for the next National call.
The rise of Vinita has made one person all the more happy and he is no other than her coach Amulyananda Bihari. Also the in-charge of CoE, Bihari believes Vinita can replace aging skipper Jyoti Sunita Kullu. ‘‘Like Jyoti, Vinita is endowed with an ideal combination of stamina, determination, and skill. She should replace Jyoti in a couple of years when the latter retires,’’ Bihari said.
