By Paritosh Pramanik
HER dream is coming true! City’s outstanding hockey player Himanshi Sharad Gawande is just one step away from donning India colours.
The talented forward has been named as one of the 41 probables for the junior women’s national coaching camp that begins on Monday at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Centre, Bengaluru.
Hockey India (HI) announced the 41-core probables based on their performances in the domestic championships held in 2023.
The players will report to coach Tushar Khandker for a month-long camp that will conclude on February 6.
Himanshi, a former student of Ira International School and who has played for Vidarbha as well as Hockey Maharashtra in various junior nationals, has been consistently performing well since several years. She had made it a habit of winning best player of the tournament on many occasions. At present she was playing for SAI Mumbai and has been ‘upgraded’ to SAI Bengaluru where she will try to impress the Junior India selectors.
“Sir, I am not stopping here. I want to play for India. I have a few more years in the junior section and I want to play Junior India,” Himanshi had told this scribe a few months back after winning the national title.
Himanshi made a switch from Vidarbha Hockey Association (VHA) to Hockey Maharashtra for better prospects. Also, with infighting in VHA, the game of hockey was deteriorating in Nagpur.
Her decision to play for Hockey Maharashtra bore fruits as she became a regular member of the State team. She was then picked by SAI Mumbai.
“I am happy with my selection in core probables. I will continue to work hard as things will only get tougher from here on. I want to take Nagpur’s and Maharashtra’s name at India level,” Himanshi told ‘The Hitavada on Sunday from Bengaluru.’
Himanshi will be the second player from Nagpur to be included in Hockey India’s core probables list.
A few years back, Indian Railways’ midfielder and Nagpur’s Niyaz Rahim was part of the Senior men’s probables.
Junior women’s coach and former India player Tushar Khandker said India has a dearth of talent and these probables will be monitored closely.
“This core group has been picked based on the players’ performances for their respective state teams in Hockey India Junior Women’s National Championship, Zonal Championships as well as Junior Women Academy National Championships and Zonal Championships,” Khandker said.
“I have always believed that there is no dearth of talent in India. I look forward to working with this new group as these players will be closely watched and developed with focus on the next FIH Junior World Cup,” he said.
List of players in the 41-member core probable group:
Goalkeepers: Vidyashree V, Aditi Maheshwari, Nidhi, Engil Harsharani Minz.
Defenders: Lalthantluangi, Niru Kullu, Mamita Oram, Thounjaojam Nirupama Devi, Jyoti Singh, Anjali Barwa, Pawanpreet Kaur, Puja Sahoo.
Midfielders: Priyanka Dogra, Rajni Karketta, F Lalbi Aksiami, Manisha, Nirali Kujur, Hina Bano, Ksetrimayum Sonia Devi, Anisha Sahoo, Priyanka Yadav, Khaidem Shileima, Supriya Kujur, Jaisikdeep Kaur, Binima Dhan, Huda Khan, Sakshi Rana.
Forwards: Sonam, Sanjana Horo, Dechamma PG, Ishika, Himanshi Sharad Gawande, Kanika Siwach, Nisha Minj, Yamunna, Geeta Yadav, Gurmail Kaur, Lalrinpuii, Munmuni Das, Ashwini Punjab Kolekar, Sunelita Toppo.
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