How Sunil Bhengra Overcame Barriers with Perseverance

Sunil Bhengra, a young boy from the remote tribal village of Khunti, Jharkhand, grew up in a humble farming family. His parents, Pradeep and Ranthi Bhengra, worked tirelessly as daily wage labourers. Despite their modest means, Sunil always dreamed of a world beyond the fields and familiar village life. His passion for hockey emerged early and he played it with whatever he could find—even with bamboo sticks on uneven village grounds.

When Sunil joined DAV Public School, his aspirations began to take shape. He got a chance to play, real hockey through the Tata Trusts supported ‘Grassroots Hockey Programme’, being implemented by Collectives for Integrated Livelihoods(CInI). This enabled him to experience the game differently. For the first time, he held a proper hockey stick, trained with skilled coaches and played on a real field. These small yet impactful changes ignited a stronger and deeper drive in him to excel in the sport.

As a part of the grassroots programme, Sunil trained rigorously, even while balancing his studies. His coaches recognised his potential early on, noting his quick learning and strong decision-making skills on the field. In July 2022, he was selected for Regional Development Centre, Khunti. He went on to compete in major tournaments, such as the SNBP All India Tournament in Pune and Jharkhand’s Sub-Junior Jawaharlal Nehru Hockey Tournament.

With every match, his abilities grew and passion deepened. In addition to his athletic achievements, Sunil has shown significant improvement in his academic pursuits. This holistic growth has enhanced not only his athletic performance but also cultivated a strong sense of discipline and confidence, preparing him for all his future challenges. Sunil’s story bears a strong testament to how hard work and passion can help realise dreams when nurtured by the right support.

This story has been taken from the Tata Trusts' Annual Report 2023-24.