Women’s hockey on death bed in Telangana

​Hyderabad: Lack of encouragement from the government for women's hockey in Telangana and the declining interest among young girls in the selections are worrying sports officials as the state might lose its rightful place in the national game.

According to State Youth and Sports department (SYSD) sources, Yendala Soundarya from Nizamabad in Telangana and Etimarpu Rajani from Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh were the two girls, who showed the way for others making a mark by being the first-ever women hockey players from the two Telugu states. Both played at the national and international events like Rio Olympics, in 2016, World Cup semifinals, senior Asia Cup, Champions Trophy and the like. 

Both the players kick-started their journey at the Regional Academies and fine-tuned their talents at SAI center in Hyderabad. However, Soundarya had to leave the game following an injury and Rajani continued to play for the Indian team.

According to Soundarya, there is not even a single coach at district level and only senior players are training the juniors. “This is the major drawback in Telangana,” she said. Rajani said, "Soundarya is a good player and both of us were together in the academy.

“Regional Academies had provided us an opportunity to make a good beginning. The closer of the academies could be the reason for others not able to get the opportunities we had got.  Secondly, job opportunities and future are the two other aspects which are preventing parents to send their wards to pursue their career in the sport,” she added.

A senior coach from the Sports Authority of Telangana State (TSSS) said, “Generally girls at the age of 10 years are selected and they needed a minimum of five to six years of training, playing and exposure. Once they started playing from around the age of 16 years, they could comfortably play in the Indian team at the age of around 19 and most of them get retired by 27 years, he added.

Post bifurcation of the state, women’s hockey is not getting the attention it deserved in Telangana. The united AP team was ahead of others in the South and considered as the best in the country.  There were about 100 girls undergoing training. But, closer of the regional hostels resulted in not able to attract talented players like Soundarya and Rajani. 

He said that in recently-held SAI selections for under 19 women’s hockey, while 100 girls turned up at Kakinada, only 20 turned up for selections in Hyderabad. Sensing the similar situation, the Andhra Pradesh had given its nod for a day scholar scheme (DSS). Accordingly, aspiring sportsmen and women could attend for training, play and practice without staying in the hostels. But, they will be paid diet, coaching and training charges by the government, said APK Reddy of the Andhra Hockey Association.

Earlier, regional academies and hostels in places like Kadapa, Chandragiri (Tirupati), Pulivendula, Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh, Sangareddy, Mahbubnagar and the like had given the much-needed push to keep up the interests in the sports. 

Post bifurcation, the TSSS is running sports schools at Hakimpet, Karimnagar, Adilabad, Regional Sports Hotels at Warangal, and Sports Academies on the OU campus, Khammam, and Wanaparthy districts. Out of these, the proposed Hockey Academy at Wanaparthy is exclusively meant for boys. Hence, there are only around 20 girls undergoing coaching at the SAI facility at Gachibowli, the sources said.