Inspired by father, Vandana aims to win World Cup for India
LUCKNOW: Ace forward Vandana Katariya was almost in tears after scoring a hat-trick against South Africa in a women’s hockey pool match at the Tokyo Olympics last year. She knew what the achievement meant to her as a player.
She recalled that in her difficult days, her father Nahar Singh had no choice but to sell a calf for Rs 350 in order to buy a hockey stick for his daughter.
Even though her father bought the calf back a few months later, his gesture was the biggest support to Vandana’s success in sport. It was only after she won the bronze medal at the Junior World Cup in 2013 that she realised the importance of his support.
“I don’t know how my father kept this secret for so long, but that incident still gives me the courage to excel in sports,” Katariya said on Wednesday.
“When I was at a camp during the corona period in April 2020, my father passed away. I never forgot his efforts to support me. I never intend to disappoint him. Even now whenever I score a goal, I do remember my father, who was God to me.”
Looking forward to seeing India make a podium finish at the upcoming Women’s Hockey World Cup, scheduled from July 1 to 17 in The Netherlands, Katariya said she was motivated enough to put her best foot forward in the premium event.
“I would like to put in a good performance at the Women’s Hockey World Cup. I would like to win the Cup for India and our fans. I know it won’t be easy, but we have been preparing for it for the past four years, so now that it’s finally here, we’re ready,” said Katariya, who has scored 73 goals in 264 international matches to date.
Katariya had been part of the Indian team that was placed 12th at the 2016 Olympics in Rio before finishing fourth at the Tokyo Olympics last year.
“During the corona phase, all of us trained individually in our rooms and were allowed to communicate via phone and video calls. It was a tough time for all, but our mission was to take advantage of the opportunity in Tokyo to the fullest extent possible and we did that.”
“That fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics, India’s best in the quadrennial event, has taught us so much, and we hope to make it to the podium at The Netherlands since we have faced all the top teams in the Pro-League,” said Katariya, 30.
As a member of the Indian team’s attacking line, Katariya made headlines in 2013 when she finished as India’s top scorer at the Junior Women’s World Cup in Monchengladbach, Germany. She also helped the team win the bronze medal. “I remember that day as one of the best of my life. It reminds me what I am capable of.”
Katariya, who has been a key member of the team since then, was also a member of the teams that won the Asian Champions Trophy in 2016, the Round 2 of the 2017 Hockey World League in Canada, and the 2017 Women’s Asia Cup.
“All of your good days motivate you to continue on your path to success,” said Katariya, who learned the basics of sport at the state government-run KD Singh ‘Babu’ Hockey Hostel in Lucknow. “The Lucknow days keep me motivated. I don’t forget those learning or winning moments. I proudly accept that whatever I am today is because of my training by Poonam Lata Raj and Vishnu Sir at the Lucknow Hostel,” said Katariya, who was also a key member of the Indian side that won the silver medal at the 2018 Women’s Asian Champions Trophy and advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2018 Vitality Hockey Women’s World Cup London.
She said things have changed a lot in the last few years. “Now we don’t feel shy or inferior to any team in the world. We play fearless hockey and this has made us a force to reckon with,” she said, adding, “That’s the reason why after losing, we bounced back and finished fourth at Tokyo. We take collective decisions.”
Katiyar, who was a key member of India’s Asia Cup campaign in 2022, where they won bronze and also helped India finish third in the FIH Hockey Women’s Pro League, said India would plan their strategy match-by-match at the upcoming World Cup.
“We have different plans for different teams. If we play good hockey, we will definitely be in the top three.”
Katiyar’s hockey journey is undoubtedly inspirational for others. She started playing at home in Haridwar and then played for Meerut before relocating to Lucknow. She believes that difficulties made her strong and she will continue to help India win matches in the future.