Pooja Sahoo and (pic right) with her family during the Women’s Hockey India League
Pooja, a resident of Kukuda village in Odisha’s Sundargarh district, was the standout new face in the 20-member squad, capping years of hard work that began after she was spotted by local coach Dominic Toppo. KOLKATA: Pooja Sahoo’s hockey journey reached a major milestone on Tuesday as the defender earned her maiden India call-up after being named in the squad for the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy in Bhopal.
Like many children in the region, the 19-year-old initially played with bamboo sticks before Toppo handed her a second-hand stick. With the support of her family and coaches, Pooja eventually made it to the STC Centre in Sundargarh, where she trained from 2018 to 2021 before moving to National Centre of Excellence in New Delhi. After featuring on India’s junior Europe tour in 2024, Pooja made the Junior World Cup squad and later played a key role in India’s title-winning campaign at the Junior Women’s Asia Cup in Sept this year. Led by Salima Tete, hosts India will begin their campaign against Malaysia on Nov 19.
Join conversation Share your thoughts in the comments Be respectful · TOI community guidelines While Pooja was the standout new face in the squad announced for the Asian Champions Trophy, veteran goalkeeper Savita Punia was rested from the tournament.
She is bringing recognition not only to our family but also to our village, Sundargarh and Odisha,” her father, Bhikhu Sahu, a retired employee of a private mining company, told TOI. She always had a good flick, a strong slap hit and an excellent work ethic,” he said. Their interest in her development was always there,” Sarangi said.
Pooja’s rise has brought immense pride to her family, who watched her hockey dream take shape despite modest means. “We are extremely happy and proud. Her mother Alisha, meanwhile, was overjoyed when she first heard the news. Later, her father borrowed money from various sources to buy her very first hockey stick. From there, she earned a place in the junior national camp and steadily rose through the ranks. Former India goalkeeper Edgar Mascarenhas, who worked with Odisha’s junior women’s programme, remembers being impressed by Pooja in her early days. “What stood out was her communication, leadership and willingness to take responsibility. “She has been part of the junior set-up for some time and has consistently improved. To make the senior team within a few years is remarkable. The call-up is the latest step in a steady progression. But one of her former coaches in Sundargarh, Pradeep Sarangi, believes the foundation of that success was laid at home. “Her family has always been very supportive. Her father and mother regularly visited the hostel to check on her and see how she was progressing. Back in Kukuda, Bhikhu recalled a young girl who spent long hours training regardless of the weather. Watching her hold her own in mixed-gender matches against boys in the village convinced him she had the talent and determination to reach the highest level. In her absence, Bansari Solanki and Bichu Devi Kharibam will handle the goalkeeping duties. The squad: Goalkeepers: Bansari Solanki, Bichu Devi Kharibam; Defenders: Nikki Pradhan, Jyoti, Jyoti Singh, Sushila Chanu , Lalthantluangi, Pooja Sahoo; Midfielders: Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, Sunelita Toppo, Salima Tete (c), Neha, Sakshi Rana, Baljeet Kaur, Ishika; Forwards: Navneet Kaur, Deepika, Beauty Dungdung, Lalremsiami, Mumtaz Khan. Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.