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In 2011, the state of Jharkhand, located in eastern India highlighted the growth of sport within it’s landscape, after hosting the 2011 National Games in Ranchi. Carved out of the south Bihar, the state got legitimacy to function as an individual entity in the year 2000.However, it was not until 2005, that Jharkhand started producing National and International level athletes. India’s very own national cricket team captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni hails from Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand.In fact, Jharkhand’s mass production of talent across sports can also be attributed to the presence of the TATA sports academies. The more famous ones are the TATA Football Academy and TATA Archery Academy.From cricket to mountaineering, here are the five best sportspersons from the state of Jharkhand.
#1 Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Cricket)
Indian cricket team’s limited overs captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni made his debut for the country in 2004 against Bangladesh. He went onto make his test debut next year, against Sri Lanka. Dhoni’s domestic career stretches back to 1999, when he played his first match for Bihar.
In 2004, he started representing Jharkhand and if you thought his international record was good, Dhoni’s First Class record is even better. In 131 matches, he scored 7,038 runs and took 364 catches, behind the stumps.
For India, he has amassed 8,192 runs in ODI’s and 4,876 runs in Test matches.
The 33-year old also captained India to two World Cup victories – the T20 World Cup in 2007, held in South Africa and the ODI World Cup held in 2011 on their home turf.
#2 Deepika Kumari (Archery)
A product of the National Archery Academy in Jamshedpur, Kumari is arguably one of the finest archers India has ever produced. She reached her peak a couple of years back, after achieving a ranking of World number one in the women’s individual recurve category.
Now ranked number 2 in the world, she has two gold medal victories from the 2010 Commonwealth Games, where she won the individual and team recurve event. Kumari also secured three consecutive silver medal positions at the Archery World Cup in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
Her Asian Games outing didn’t go as well, after winning a solitary bronze medal in the team event at the 2010 Guangzhou games.
Considering the form she is in, nothing less than a medal position is expected from her event at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
#3 Jaipal Singh (Hockey)
Jharkhand’s only Olympic medalist, Jaipal Singh captained the Indian national hockey team to clinch the gold medal at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. A Mundal tribal man, who hailed geographically from Jharkhand, but at his time, the province fell under the geographical proximity of Bihar.
Popularly known as Marang Gomke i.e “Great Leader”, Singh became the sole representative of the tribal cause as he was the only personality present in a mainstream realm at the time.
Under Singh’s captaincy, India were undefeated as they won 16 of their 17 matches and drew one of them.
For Jharkhand, Jaipal Singh was more than just a hockey player, he was their first leader.
#4 Premlata Agarwal (Mountaineering)
Not the most household of names, Premlata is the oldest Indian woman to climb world’s tallest peak in Mount Everest at 48 years of age. She also became the first person from the state to initiate, participate and complete a Mt. Everest expedition.
In 2013, she was awarded the Padma Shri by the Indian government for her efforts. Apart from Everest, Premlata has also climbed the Karakoram Pass (18,300 ft) and Mt. Saltoro Kangri (20,150 ft).
She also became the first Indian woman to complete seven summits, which is climbing one mountain from each continent.
The 53-year old was trained by legendary mountain climber Bachendri Pal.
#5 Varun Aaron (Cricket)
Aaron is an example of a player, who graduated through Jharkhand cricket’s youth system, before making his India debut in 2011 against West Indies.
After making his way through various age groups, he managed to secure a birth in the Jharkhand U-19 team. Within a couple of years, he graduated to the state’s Ranji team in 2008.
He took 58 wickets in 24 first class matches for Jharkhand, before being selected for the National team. Aaron is also a product of the MRF Pace foundation, where his talent was spotted at the young age of 15.
In September 2014, Aaron signed for England Country side, Durham to play regular cricket. The 25-year old currently plies his trade for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League.
