Gangapur, Uttar Pradesh — Dreams often begin with the smallest spark. For 20-year-old Pooja Yadav, that spark came in the form of a pair of worn-out hockey shoes adorned with two golden stars — her first step toward becoming the first woman from Benaras to play for the Indian national hockey team.

Pooja’s journey is rooted in the humble soil of Gangapur, a small village in Varanasi district, where her father Mahendra Yadav, a milkman and farmer, stood firmly behind her dreams. Even as neighbors and relatives casually dismissed her ambitions with lines like, “Hockey mein kuchh nahi hoga iska” (She won’t get anywhere in hockey), Mahendra never wavered. Instead, he made quiet sacrifices — like bartering milk deliveries for a pair of sports shoes from the local shopkeeper — just so his daughter could step onto the field.

Golden Shoes and Grit

“It took a month and a half of milk deliveries to pay for the shoes,” Pooja recalls. “But I got them. They had two golden stars. I felt unstoppable.”

Those shoes eventually wore out, but not Pooja’s resolve. From playing cricket with boys in her village to discovering hockey at school, Pooja’s competitive spirit grew. “Playing with boys gave me the belief I could match them. I never felt I was less than anyone,” she says.

When her skills caught the eye of a school coach, Pooja began formal training. But real pressure came when she aimed to qualify for the SAI sports hostel in Lucknow. “I had to get selected. That way, my parents wouldn’t have to bear the cost of food and equipment anymore.”

Support from Her Family of Fighters

At home, Pooja’s biggest champions were her mother Kalavati and four sisters, all of whom are now married homemakers. “They kept pushing me even after I failed my first trials,” she says. “They told me to skip housework and go train. My mother wouldn’t let me quit.”

The family’s resources were limited — they had a small patch of land and two buffaloes — but their emotional investment in Pooja was limitless.

‘Chak De India’ and Small-Screen Motivation

After facing repeated skepticism from villagers and peers, Pooja took matters into her own hands. “I made people come over and watch ‘Chak De India’ with me. It used to fire me up and helped my parents visualize me reaching that level. But more importantly, it shut down the doubters,” she laughs.

Training, Trials, and Mentorship

Her determination eventually earned her a spot at the national camp in Bengaluru. There, under the guidance of senior players like Navneet Kaur and Neha Goyal, and mentored closely by Sushila Chanu, Pooja began sharpening her game.

“Sushila didi tells me to stop fearing mistakes and to always focus on the next move. She reminds me to lift my head, scan the field, and never lose possession,” Pooja explains. “I’m learning so much every day.”

Camp life also brought new experiences — like dry fruits and soup-based diets. “Back home, it was always daal-chawal or roti-sabzi. Even that felt like a feast. Here, we’re taught to eat for strength.”

Coaches Weigh In

India’s head coach Harendra Singh has high hopes for her. “She has great peripheral vision and passing skills. She’s quick to adapt, has strong tactical awareness, and fits in well with the team.”

A national selector added, “Her fitness levels are solid. She plays smart in midfield — distributes quickly, intercepts well, and doesn’t cling to the ball unnecessarily. That’s what you need in a central position.”

A Legacy in the Making

Harendra Singh also noted the deep roots of hockey in the Varanasi-Ghazipur-Mirzapur belt, referencing legends like Mohd Shahid, Vivek Singh, and Lalit Upadhyay. “Now with Pooja, the region will inspire even more girls. She’s a role model in the making.”

Still a Village Girl at Heart

Despite her rising fame, Pooja remains grounded. She still watches cricket and cheers for Hardik Pandya, and she loves reading athlete success stories. “Last Sunday, I read about a poor Pakistani player — I don’t even remember the name or sport — but it struck a chord. We come from the same kind of background.”

And what about those golden-starred shoes? “They’re too small now,” she says with a smile. “But I still keep them. They remind me of where I started.”

Category: Women in Sports, Inspirational Stories, Rural Empowerment
Tags: Pooja Yadav, Indian Women’s Hockey, Gangapur Varanasi, SAI Hostel Lucknow, Chak De India, Women in Hockey, Harendra Singh, Field Hockey India, Sports Motivation, Athlete Stories