New Delhi [India], April 17 (ANI): In current years, the Indian ladies’s hockey staff has gone on to turn out to be a memorable a part of the nation’s sporting historical past. Often thought of underdogs on the highest stage, the Indian ladies’s hockey staff has constantly punched properly above their weight, giving the followers a lot to cheer about.
Salima Tete, one of many Indian staff’s youthful gamers, has been instrumental within the staff’s success tales during the last half-decade and hopes to be part of many extra moments of glory.
Salima Tete was just lately named Asia’s rising participant by the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) and the AHF introduced her because the Athlete Ambassador of the Asian Continent.
Talking to ANI concerning the honour, Salima expressed gratitude to the Asian Hockey Federation and in addition praised her staff members for his or her fixed assist.
“I sincerely thank the Asian Hockey Federation for recognising the hard work that we have done on the ground over the years,” Salima advised ANI.
“But this journey would not have been possible without the constant support that I have received from my teammates and the coaching staff who have always given me the confidence to play according to my strengths and have given me the freedom to express myself. I hope to continue to perform in a similar fashion in the years to come,” she added.
Salima started taking part in the game on grass as a toddler, and one of many highlights of her profession to this point has been India’s fourth-place end on the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. While this has helped the athlete, Salima says it has additionally ensured that her village has higher coaching amenities and is not hidden from the highlight.
“Before the Tokyo Olympics, no one knew about our village and after I came back, the focus on our native place increased a lot. We have people visiting us from different places, people recognising the village I come from. It is really heart-warming. Even my family feels very good when people come to visit. The whole atmosphere has changed and it makes me very happy,” Tete stated.
“Playing for India has really changed my life a lot, it has given me everything I could have asked for. I just want to keep performing for the country and winning more matches,” she added.
Salima has been an integral a part of the Indian staff set-up over the previous couple of years and was named the Rising Player of the Tournament on the Women’s Asia Cup 2022 match that came about in Muscat in January final 12 months.
Salima was a part of the Indian Senior Women’s Hockey Team that completed within the fourth place on the Tokyo Olympics after which went on to be part of the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup 2021, Potchefstroom, South Africa staff that additionally attained the 4th place. The midfielder additionally performed a key position for the Indian staff that attained a third-place end within the FIH Women’s Hockey Pro League 2021/22 earlier than serving to the Indian staff clinched the Bronze medal on the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham.
Rolling again the clock by just a few years, Salima threw some mild on her journey and spoke fondly concerning the individuals who have been influential mentors in her profession.
“I came to hockey through the junior nationals and I had a role model in Asunta Lakra. I wanted to become like her, when I saw her playing, I felt that if she can do it, so can I. Nikki Pradhan’s a very important figure in my development and has always had enough time for me,” stated the Indian hockey participant.
“My family too is very supportive and they don’t think of the difficulties. My family, my parents and siblings are very supportive. The outlook for them is that we should do well irrespective of everything. We want to be the best version of ourselves,” Salima recollected.
Salima was additionally an important member of the Indian staff that gained the Gold medal on the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup Spain 2022. (ANI)