Hockey | Udita using her time to introspect her game

Indian Women’s Hockey team forward Udita is utilizing the coronavirus-forced break to introspect on her game and identify the areas where she requires improvement. The COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to over 2.8 lakh deaths globally, has stopped all the sports events across the globe.

“I am watching a lot of footage of my previous games during the lockdown period and noting down some key things that I need to improve once we get back on the pitch. Hopefully, I will improve my skills quickly and become a much better player,” Udita said. The 22 years old that the time has given her an opportunity to improve her game and skills.

The young forward from Haryana said she had learned a lot playing alongside senior players like Rani and Vandana Katariya. “It has been a wonderful journey with the Indian team. I idolise Rani and Vandana, and I have learned a lot from them. They are very experienced players and have always supported me during my time with the team. I am very lucky to have seniors like them. I keep a close eye on how they practice and strategize before matches.”

Udita’s life was not easy because her father died at a very young age. Since then her mother is the moral and biggest supporter of her life.

“My mother is very special in my life. After I lost my father in 2015, my mother has been a big support for all of us (we are three siblings). Our mother took our father’s place and was always there for us,” said Udita.

“I am in the Indian Women’s Hockey Team only because of her. She is my friend as well. I have no words to describe how special my mother is for me”, she added in a statement.

At her schooling age, she used to play handball in her school and enjoy a lot while playing. However, there was a phase when her handball coach wasn’t available for three days then Udita decided to ask her mother that she could take up hockey. After that, she learned the sport and kept moving from one level to another.

“It’s amazing where life takes you sometimes. My handball coach didn’t turn up for three days and then I made the switch to hockey in school. I took to hockey immediately and I understood that I can be good at this sport. I think the U-18 Asia Cup in 2016 was a big turning point for me,” she said.

Her performances were recognized in the competition and eventually, she made her way to the Senior Indian Team.