MP’s nursery of women’s hockey talent from N-E produces another captain

Bhopal: Situated in Gwalior, the Madhya Pradesh Women’s Hockey Academy, has, in the recent past, emerged as a launchpad or stage for aspiring sportspersons from the Northeast to come into prominence from virtual obscurity, churning out a steady stream of players who have gone on to don the national jersey and even lead the national team.

The latest in the league of these extraordinary talents is Shileima Chanu from strife-torn Manipur.A product of the academy, who has been honing and sharpening her stick skills here since 2018, Shileima has now been named the India U-21 captain for the upcoming exposure tour of the UK.According to academy officials, she joins a distinguished club of about a dozen players who trained at the academy before going on to represent the country at various levels, adding that some of them even took up the captaincy mantle.The academy owes its origin to former state sports minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia, who launched it in 2005-06.“Our focus on holistic development — technical skills, fitness and mental conditioning — has helped players from diverse regions and backgrounds reach the national stage,” academy coach Vandana told TOI.Already being hailed as one of the academy’s most prominent success stories, Shileima’s elevation as captain has won her praise from the selectors as well as state officials.

“She is a disciplined leader and a product of the structured training environment we maintain here,” coach Vandana added.Pukhrambam Sushila Chanu, an internationally acclaimed player from Manipur who took her early lessons in the sport at the MP academy, credited the facility for shaping her career in field hockey.Sushila spent about seven to eight years training at the Gwalior facility, academy records show.

“The foundation she built here played a major role in her development as a player,” another coach said.Her career highlights include captaining the Indian women’s hockey team at the 2016 Rio Olympics, an achievement that marked India’s return to the Games after a 36-year absence. Sushila represented India in more than 250 international fixtures, according to Hockey India, commanding respect not just with her consistent performances but leadership as well.According to the sports analysts here, the academy’s outreach and scholarship programmes have been instrumental in identifying and nurturing talent from the Northeast.“There is a wealth of natural hockey talent in Northeast states, especially Manipur, and structured academies like ours are crucial to helping them translate their potential into performance,” a senior coach said.State sports officials said the academy’s success in launching these girls to national and international prominence has encouraged more players from the Northeast to shift to Gwalior for training, resulting in a stronger representation of the region in senior and junior national teams.“When young athletes see role models from their region leading national sides, it inspires a whole new generation of talent,” Shileima told TOI.Buoyed by its accomplished products, the academy has now set sights on expanding scouting and training initiatives this year to sustain the pipeline of talent, officials said.GFX HEADLINE: DISTINGUISHED GRADUATESPukhrambam Sushila Chanu (India captain)Suman Devi ThoudamBicchu Devi (goalkeeper)Shileima Chanu (India U-21 captain)