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There is no extra motivation needed for a player to represent the country in international competitions. The sheer pride of donning the national jersey is enough to spur him for bigger things on the pitch. And when a player comes out with an outstanding achievement and that effort is recognized by the powers-that-be, it serves as a huge source of encouragement for a player to scale even newer heights.
Indian women’s hockey goalkeeper Savita Poonia must be feeling the same after her eye-catching performance in the 8th Women’s Asia Cup hockey tournament in Ipoh, Malaysia. Poonia put on a blockbuster showing in the Indian cage, which enabled her side to pick up a bronze in the event, atoning for the disappointment of not qualifying for the 2014 World Cup by not winning the event.
Poona was at her supreme best in the Indian citadel, producing crucial saves on a regular basis, which allowed the Blueskirts to look competitive in the tournament – no wonder, she was adjudged the best goalkeeper of the tournament.
The 22-year-old Haryana girl is on a high with the Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda promising her a government job. It may be pertinent to mention that jobs for women hockey players in India are scarce. Indian Railways is the only institution to hire women hockey players and comprise a large chunk of the senior team. Given the fact the likes of Air India, Indian Oil, ONGC and BPCL are shying away from recruiting women hockey players, Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s job promise will be like music to the ears of Poonia.
The Haryana Chief Minister has gone on record saying that Poonia will be provided a government job on the basis of her achievements and state government’s sports policy.
It may be recalled that women hockey players, eight from Haryana, representing India including Savita Poonia, who were runners-up in the qualifying match for the London Olympics, were a cash reward of Rs five lakh for their performance by the Haryana government.
The state government, in a bid to ensure a secure future to the players, has implemented ‘Padak Lao Pad Pao’ in its Sports Policy under which outstanding sportspersons are provided government jobs across various departments.
