After a double-header loss against Belgium in the FIH Women’s Hockey Pro League 2021/22, Indian women’s hockey team midfielder Sonika is hopeful that the team will make a comeback in the upcoming games against Argentina, to be played here on June 18 and 19. .
India lost the first game 1-2 against Belgium and then went down 0-5 in the second game.
“We are working hard after the matches against Belgium. Those two matches were learning experiences for us and we have worked on our strategy for the upcoming matches against Argentina. We hope to come back and do well.”
Sonika also recalled how she started developing an interest in the sport only at the age of nine. The visit of an experienced hockey coach to his school in Hisar, Haryana instilled in young Sonika a desire to pursue the sport. “It was the first time I had seen someone wearing an Indian tracksuit. I wanted to wear the same and represent my country on the biggest platform,” said Sonika.
Sonika’s coach advised her to work hard to fulfill her dreams. From then on, she became focused and started training rigorously every day. His father, who was a volleyball player, gave him full support to pursue the sport. Her mother also shrugged off the neighbors, who questioned her for pushing her younger daughter towards sports.
“I was quite a naughty kid. My parents thought sport would bring discipline in me, so they never forbade me to go for training,” Sonika said.
In 2011, Sonika participated in her first Rural Nationals for Haryana in Ranchi. She then became a part of the senior national team that won the gold medal in 2013. In the 2014 New Zealand Test Series, Sonika made her debut India The junior women’s national team, before leading the team as captain in Spain in the Five Nations tournament.
Sonika was selected in the senior women’s national camp in 2016 and made her senior debut in the Hawke’s Bay Cup in New Zealand. She was also a part of the Indian women’s senior team that won the gold medal at the Women’s Asia Cup in 2017. In 2020, after the New Zealand tour in January, Sonika decided to take a break from the sport and the national camp. Covid-19 lockdown, to spend time with my family.
“I wanted to be with my family amid the lockdown. I was finding it difficult to concentrate on the game. I am thankful to my parents, teammates who supported me during that time.”
In 2021, Sonika returned to hockey with the Senior Nationals. “Citizens gave me a platform to showcase my talent once again, and gave me a chance to bounce back. I am grateful that I am on the field again. I am thankful to all those who have been with me during that time.”
Now, with FIH Women’s Hockey World With Cup 2022 on the horizon, Sonika expects India to be able to achieve a podium finish this year. “We are working really hard and we have been in the camp for almost a year. We want to finish the podium as it will be the ultimate reward for our hard work,” she signed off.
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