Girl power in the foreground – Nitu, Tulika and the hockey girls conquer the hearts of billions in India with courageous performances » FirstSportz
The rise of women in Indian sport in recent years has been quite enchanting. Gone are the days when female athletes were treated as “second class”. Today, when talking about medal prospects at multi-disciplinary events like the Commonwealth Games, the Asian Games and the Olympic Games, women are a high priority.
No, not only in terms of being generously coached and funded by the Indian government, but also in terms of medal expectations. When you see a host of women athletes battling hard for India in a variety of arenas at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on Wednesday, you can be sure Nari Shakti is in full force.
The way India has encouraged women in all walks of life is a very serious attempt to showcase their talent, skills and abilities. Especially in sports there was always encouragement.
When 21-year-old Nitu Ghanghas from Haryana was in top form in the 47kg boxing category against Nicole Clyde, it made for a great crowd. Nitu looks thin at first. But what you see can be quite misleading. Watching the rustic girl pound her opponent with the ferocity of a tiger was a testament to just how strong women like Nitu are in Indian sports.
At one point, as Clyde did the mandatory count while the referee kept an eye on the clock, you felt sorry for the girl. Oh damn, this is boxing. A reckless sport, not for the faint of heart. It’s all about aggro, punches, hooks and even bloodshed on the deck.
Women in boxing also compete with flair and extravagance. Just the fact that Nitu secures a bronze medal makes so many people happy at home. She comes from a lower-middle-class family. Her father Jai Bhagwan says she is the breadwinner of the family.
What her family does in return is balls to her daughter for climbing the peaks. Well, securing a bronze has done wonders and the family is already celebrating in a village called Dahana in Haryana. Sweets were ordered, and the achievements of the “gaooon ki beti” are recognized.
Maybe this is a bit like scenes from the movie dangal, where Aamir Khan captured a father’s travails in production kiss tea master so beautiful. The characters in the film expressed the hardships girls and women face in pursuing their dreams.
Perhaps we will see more Nitus in the years to come as Haryana was certainly a sporting state for all the complexity of her caste system. Sport has no caste or creed. Sport is all about performance, winning and handing out medals!
Also read: From lawn bowls to table tennis, India is in brilliant form at the Commonwealth Games
Tulika Maan wins silver
If Nitu brought joy, Tulika Maan was in her element as she advanced to the judo finals by defeating Sydnee Andrew in the 78kg judo bout. Even before the draw, the field seemed weak in this section. Still, it was commendable that Tulika demonstrated her superiority in a highly technical sport.
Tulika trains in Bhopal and has been the face of Indian judo for some time, winning countless national titles. She has won medals at the Commonwealth Championships and the South Asian Games. Her performance in Birmingham on Wednesday is certainly a testament to her skills.
It is supported by the Sports Authority of India under the annual ACTC programme. Sports like judo may not be as popular, but if India is looking for medals in the international arena, especially among women, judo is a solid bet.
At the end of Wednesday night, girl power continued as the Indian women’s hockey team secured their place in the semi-finals of the Commonwealth Games. Salima Tete, Navneet Kaur and Lalremsiami scored lucky goals in India’s 3-2 win over Canada in a crucial league game.
It seems like the Indian women’s team shed tears yesterday in Tokyo as they finished fourth at the Olympics. The bronze medal seemed within reach but slipped away in the 4-3 defeat by Great Britain.
Tears flowed down the girls cheeks. The loss in Tokyo was heartbreak. Everyone cried late into the night and even upon arrival in New Delhi. It was only after seeing the cheering and celebration at an event hosted for them in the capital that they believed they had made their mark.
After not doing too well at the recent FIH World Championships, it wasn’t easy for the Indian girls to reach their peak. Every one of those girls who scored on Wednesday did it too Josch. Hockey is all about high adrenaline, pulse and running on artificial turf.
The semi-final against Australia will be tough. However, none of these girls fear tough teams. These girls have confidence and confidence. When there was a change of coach and coach Sjoerd Marijne didn’t get an extension, the girls were upset.
However, the transition was smooth. With Janeke Schopman now in charge as trainer, the girls go through the grind again. Every one of them in the camp has to eradicate it. Team selection is based on merit.
Someone like Rani Rampa, the former India skipper, is out as she’s not quite fit. Still, we have hungry older players like Vanadana Katariya and Savita Punia spilling their guts on the pitch.
Dil Se
Also read: “A phenomenal athlete” – Alice Tai wins gold at the Commonwealth Games months after having a leg amputated
Also read: The Indian men’s ice hockey team shows old weaknesses, wins the Commonwealth Games with a 4-1 lead to a 4-4 draw against hosts England
https://firstsportz.com/women-power-to-the-fore-nitu-tulika-and-the-hockey-girls-win-the-hearts-of-billions-in-india-with-gutsy-performances/ Girl power in the foreground – Nitu, Tulika and the hockey girls conquer the hearts of billions in India with courageous performances » FirstSportz