Jyoti’s hockey journey: A mother who couldn’t afford her school fees met a former India captain, and it led to a shining career
When Jyoti’s name was called out in Ranchi on Sunday night, she ran towards the stage to pick up the Player of the Tournament award, a glittering trophy and a check for Rs 20 lakh. At the end of the inaugural Women’s Hockey India League, the 25-year-old from Sonepat, who represented JSW Soorma Hockey Club, took home the most significant individual award.
And watching on from the stands at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Astro Turf Hockey Stadium was Pritam Rani Siwach, former India captain, now coach also from Sonepat. Pritam had been present in the same room many years ago when Jyoti’s late mother Suraj had been in tears, because she wasn’t able to afford her daughter’s school fees, of Rs 250 a month roughly.
“I used to go to the school in our area to get admissions for poor children ...