“It is every player’s dream to represent their country on a global stage" - hockey midfielder Manisha Chauhan
25-year-old Manisha Chauhan from Uttarakhand has turned her dream, of making her international debut for the Senior Women's Hockey Team, into reality. The midfielder made her maiden appearance for India in the Europe leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023-24 against Argentina.
Talking to ANI, Manisha Chauhan expressed ecstasy upon receiving her maiden India cap.
“It is every player’s dream to represent their country on a global stage. I have always dreamt of this moment ever since I started playing hockey. It was a special moment for me as I made my way onto the pitch wearing the Indian jersey. The coaching and support staff have put their trust in me, and it was up to me to prove them right," she said.
Describing her experience representing India for the first time, she said, “Harendra Sir told me to trust my instincts and play my natural game, which I have been playing for the past few years. He also told me the areas I need to work on and how I can improve my game overall. Every member of the team has supported, helped, and motivated me to perform better. I feel blessed to be part of this fantastic team, where the players make you feel at home."
She developed interest in hockey at a young age, in class five. Recalling how it all began, Manisha said:
“I was always interested in playing sports. I used to play football and handball a lot. I also have state-level medals in the long jump and shot put. I remember the school coach coming to the ground and asking us if anyone wanted to play hockey. I showed interest in taking up the sport and then he asked me to come for training in the evening. Since then, there was no looking back for me," she stated.
She performed remarkably at school level competitios. Moreover, she went on to captain the Uttarakhand team in the Junior Women National Championship in 2016. On the back of some exceptional performances, her breakthrough came when she received a call for the Indian Junior Women's Team camp.
Remwmbering the call up, Manisha said,
“I was over the moon when I got the news of me being selected for the Indian Junior Women’s Team camp. It was an amazing moment for me and my family. My coach, Mr Balwinder Singh, who has always inspired me and has been my constant support from my early days, was overjoyed with the news.”
“Once I reached Bengaluru, I was very nervous seeing other players who had joined the camp coming from different states. This was something I only dreamt of. Most of the players were relatively more experienced than me. I was coming on the back of playing in Junior Nationals, held in Ranchi. But I immediately knew that I need to work a lot on my game and hone my skills if I want to make a name for myself,” she added.
Manisha Chauhan made it big despite initial roadblocks
The road ahead was not a smooth one for Manisha Chauhan. Although she was talented and dedicated, she could not claim a spot in the teams for domestic and international tours. She was eventually excluded from the camp in 2018.
However, she continued to work hard and fine-tune her skills by playing multiple domestic tournaments. She stood firm in her dream to represent India throughout.
Come 2018, the 25-year-old participated in the trials at the National Centre of Excellence in Delhi to eventually make the cut. In 2023, during the 14th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship, Chauhan represented Manipur's hockey team and put up a stunning display. Upon scoring three goals and winning the Player of the Match in her first game, she was selected for the Senior Women's Camp.
She also took part in the All-India-Inter-University and First Khelo India Games in 2020. Further, Manisha Chauhan was awarded the best midfielder in the 1st Hockey India Senior Women Inter-Departmental National Championship in 2021.
Having made it to the National team, she will be keen to be a part of the 2026 Women's FIH Hockey World Cup team and bring laurels to the nation