Hockey Star Borrows Gear, Eyes Asia Cup

Fifteen-year-old Nausheen Naz, a promising hockey player from Seoni, Madhya Pradesh, is currently training at a national camp. She is utilizing borrowed equipment due to her family's financial constraints, as her father works as a daily-wage laborer. Despite these challenges, Nausheen has emerged as a standout talent and is on the verge of securing a place in India's squad for the Under-18 Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in Japan starting May 29.

Her journey began four years ago in Seoni, initially playing with a broken and repeatedly repaired hockey stick. A significant turning point occurred in 2023 when she was selected for the MP Hockey Academy, which provided her with crucial structured training, equipment, and dietary support that her family could not afford. Nausheen previously excelled at the sub-junior women's national championship, finishing as the top scorer with nine goals and earning player of the final honors.

Nausheen's ambition is to represent India, and her progress underscores the emergence of talented athletes from modest backgrounds, largely facilitated by institutional support. Her younger sister, Sabarika, has also joined the academy following talent identification programs, indicating a budding legacy within the family.