Had it been a 300 in a sport like cricket, there would have been banner headlines everywhere, in the mainstream media and also on social media platforms. As it happened to be a landmark in women’s hockey, Vandana Katariya – she of longevity, grace and speed – has not got her due.
Mention her name, and the first thing that will come to the mind of readers is how her house was targeted after the Tokyo Olympics. India had lost to Argentina in the Tokyo Olympics semi-final and antisocial elements decided to vandalise her house for no reason. Mind you, this was near the holy city of Haridwar in Uttarakhand, where most people go to atone and wash away their sins in the holy Ganga.
It was as if Vandana’s sin was taking up hockey and representing the country with such distinction, or being born into a Dalit family, which had always stood by her and encouraged her ambition. Long before Shahrukh Khan’s Chak De! India put Indian women’s hockey on a nation’s screens, there had been many stories of players’ struggles.
Players like Rani Rampal, the former India captain, have spoken eloquently about their love for hockey and the passion that took them to the top. Even Savita Punia, the current captain, had told this writer in 2021 after the fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics that she wanted to go on till Paris 2024.
At the bustling Hangzhou airport, after the Asian Games had ended on October 8, the women’s hockey team were flying back to New Delhi. Vandana was also there at the check-in, quiet as ever. These girls do not open up very easily, unless you know them. Plus, a third-place finish, and a bronze medal, was “not enough”.
Vandana’s 300th international match is a tribute to how fit she has kept herself. Modern hockey demands extremely high levels of fitness. Goalkeepers like PR Sreejesh or Savita can prolong their careers as their movements on the field are not comparable with that of a frontline attacking player.
This is where Vandana has been a standout, while at the same time staying so modest. Perhaps, in the history of Indian women’s hockey, Vandana is the one player who has had the fewest fitness problems and always been available for selection. This is not the time to talk of how she was targeted for no rhyme or reason in 2021. Vandana was hurt beyond measure, butshe put that pain behind her and continued to ply her trade.
At 31, if you think she is past prime, forget it. Her fitness drills and training, backed by hunger, are the reason a youngster has not been able to break into the squad and replace her. After all, Rani went out of contention because of fitness levels measured on the Yo-Yo scale.
When Vandana came to collect the Padma Shri award in March 2022 from Ram Nath Kovind, then President of India, she was in a wheelchair. Perhaps that was the only time she was out of the team or a camp with an injury. Yet, she showed up to collect a big national award which means so much to athletes.
Having played under various coaches, Vandana put in her best efforts at the Tokyo Olympics where India finished fourth. Sjoerd Marijne, the outgoing coach, was so emotional on his return to India in August 2021, as he had struck up such a rapport with the team and all the players.
To say that the girls wept when they got the news of Marijne leaving would be an understatement. Athletes can be an emotional bunch. They cry a lot, but that is no reflection of their toughness. Anyone who has watched Vandana in action will fall in love with her speed, skill and artistry, as well as the strength that has helped her get this far. To survive 300 matches on a synthetic surface and keep the ankles and knees intact is a marvel.
Dilip Tirkey, Hockey India president, who himself was the epitome of fitness and wristwork as a defender during his heyday, congratulated Vandana. “It is truly a memorable moment for any player to don the Indian Jersey and represent the country for this long,” said Tirkey. “Her journey has been nothing but exceptional and I hope that we see more phenomenal performances from her going forward.”
Vandana is currently playing in the Asian Champions Trophy in Ranchi. She will be part of the campaign in January 2024 when India hosts the FIH Paris Olympic qualifiers. There is no way she is going to quit unless the Hockey India selectors decide otherwise.
“I never thought I could play for India,” Vandana told RevSportz. “My journey as a player from Meerut to Lucknow and then moving to Team India has been big. My parents have been with me in my journey through the ups and downs.
“When I am in tournaments, I talk to parents only before it begins. I do not talk to them after every match. As regards my celebration for achieving this feat of 300 matches, the hockey team is my family. Without them, my life as a player is incomplete. I have to thank Hockey India and all others for ensuring my journey continues.”