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New Delhi, June 13 (HS). Uttarakhand's Manisha Chauhan fulfilled her dream of making her international debut for the senior women's hockey team at the age of 25. The dynamic midfielder played her first match against Argentina during the Europe stage of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023/24.
Expressing her happiness on playing for India for the first time, Manisha was quoted by Hockey India as saying, “It is every player’s dream to represent their country on the global stage. Ever since I started playing hockey, I have always dreamt of this moment. It was a special moment for me when I stepped onto the field wearing the Indian jersey. The coaching and support staff have shown faith in me and now it is up to me to prove them right.”
She said, “Harendra sir told me to trust my instincts and play my natural game, which I have been playing for the last few years. He also told me the areas I need to work on and how I can improve my game. Every member of the team supported me, helped me and motivated me to perform better. I feel blessed to be a part of this wonderful team, where the players make you feel at home.”
Manisha's interest in hockey began when she was in Class 5. Recalling her journey, she said, “I was always interested in playing sports. I used to play football and handball a lot. I also have state-level medals in long jump and shotput. I remember the school coach came to the ground and asked us if anyone wanted to play hockey. I showed interest in the sport and then he asked me to come for training in the evening. Since then, I have never looked back.”
Manisha performed remarkably in school-level competitions organised by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and also won the title of 'Best Player'. In 2016, Manisha was the captain of the Uttarakhand team in the Junior Women's National Championship. With some phenomenal performances in the tournament, she got her breakthrough when she was called up for the Indian junior women's team camp.
Recalling about the same, 25-year-old Manisha said, “I was very happy when I got the news of being selected for the Indian junior women's team camp. It was a wonderful moment for me and my family. My coach, Balwinder Singh, who has always motivated me and supported me relentlessly since my early days, was very happy with the news.”
She said, “When I reached Bengaluru, I was very nervous seeing the other players who had joined the camp from different states. This was something I had only dreamt of. Most of the players were relatively more experienced than me. I had played in the Junior Nationals held in Ranchi. But I immediately realised that I had to work a lot on my game and hone my skills if I wanted to make a name for myself.”
But despite her talent and dedication, she couldn’t secure her place for the domestic and international tours and eventually dropped out of the camp in 2018. Undaunted, she continued to hone her skills in several domestic tournaments.
Throughout these years, her dream of representing the senior women's hockey team never wavered. Two years later in 2018, she gave trials for the National Centre of Excellence, Delhi and was selected. Manisha put all her time and effort into rigorous training and improving her game. In 2023, during the 14th Hockey India Senior Women's National Championship, Manisha represented Manipur Hockey, Manisha's performance was stellar. She scored three goals and was also adjudged Player of the Match in her first game, showcasing her skill and determination.
Notably, Manisha has also participated in the All India Inter University and First Khelo India in 2020. She has also won the Best Midfielder award at the First Hockey India Senior Women's Inter-Department National Championship in 2021. Now, with her eyes set on the 2026 Women's FIH Hockey World Cup, Manisha's goal is not just to be a part of the team but to lift the coveted trophy and bring glory to India.