Grassroots to glory

In the serene village of Mahil, tucked away in the heart of Jharkhand, a young girl's passion for hockey ignited, paving the way for her remarkable journey from humble beginnings to national recognition. Meet Shruti Kumari, a spirited girl from the tribal community whose love for hockey sparked at an early age, when she was inspired by Nikki Pradhan, the first Olympian from their neighbouring village.

Growing up in a family where farming and wage labour were the mainstays, Shruti's parents, Shravan Bhogta and Sunita Devi, had their hands full supporting a family of five. Nevertheless, this didn't deter Shruti from pursuing her dreams. She used to watch news of Nikki Pradhan’s achievements on television, and she eagerly took to the sport, finding her playground within the confines of her school.

Shruti was encouraged to join the Hockey Grassroots Centre at Mahil where she began her formal coaching. Recognising the innate potential of children from tribal communities to play hockey, Tata Trusts launched a grassroots programme  with its associate organisation - Collectives for Integrated Livelihoods (CInI). The objective of this programme was to bring a level of professionalism to grassroots-level hockey in India and for it to be a launch pad for local talent. They also aimed to bring international standards to the training of domestic hockey.

Shruti’s skills flourished under the guidance of her mentor, Nauri Mundu despite initially grappling with a faulty grip on her hockey stick, Nauri's patience guided Shruti through firmly laying the foundation for her progress. As she grew in skills, her determination and perseverance were truly tested when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and she was unable to train with her mentor for six months. She continued to train remotely and in June 2020, seized an opportunity.

Shruti underwent trials for the Regional Development Centre (RDC) Khunti, impressing selectors with her prowess and earning a coveted spot. Travelling daily to Khunti on her bicycle, Shruti dedicated herself wholeheartedly to training on the artificial turf. This effort led to her participating in trials conducted by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) in Hazaribagh. She competed alongside talented girls from RDC Khunti and Simdega and got herself a spot in the SAI Hazaribagh team.

After training with SAI for three years, she officially joined the ranks of SAI Hazaribagh, in 2023, marking a significant milestone in her hockey journey. Her single-minded focus propelled her from the grassroots of Mahil to the national stage, serving as a beacon of hope and inspiration for aspiring athletes in rural India.

For Shruti, hockey proved to be the way out towards achieving personal and professional success. With the firm backing of the Tata Trusts and CInI grassroots programme, Shruti was able to change the course of her and her family’s life.

As Shruti continues to chase her dreams with unwavering resolve, her journey epitomises the transformative power of sports in transcending barriers and carving a path to success against all odds.

Read about Tata Trusts’ sports initiative. Click here