Page 24 - NIS English 01-15 March 2022

Cover Story Women Power

VANDANA

MADE A PLACE IN THE WOMEN'S

HOCKEY TEAM DESPITE HOUSEHOLD

PRESSURE

hen India's women's hockey team was Defense Sector Housing Scheme
Wconsidered underdog in the match against South
Africa at the Tokyo Olympics, Vandana Kataria gave Women pilots have 13%
the nation a chance to rejoice with her stick scoring been inducted into
hat trick. She became the first woman in Olympic the Navy.
history to score a hat-trick for India. It was not that increase in the
easy for Kataria to fulfill her dream of becoming a Ready for War number of women
hockey player. She grew up in the Roshanabad village Women pilots in the who have got land
of Uttarakhand. Kataria's neighbors did not want her squadron. Women and house ownership
to fulfill her dreams. Even her grandmother wanted will be inducted under the Pradhan
her to help with the household chores. But, her into the National Mantri Awas Yojana
father Nahar Singh Kataria, a wrestler, came forward Defense Academy since 2015.
and supported Vandana and helped her pursue the for permanent
sport professionally. In the initial days, she did not commission.
have the proper equipment for training. She used to
practice with tree branches to hone her skills. When the captain of the team. Vandana, who has bagged
her first coach Pradeep Chinoti saw her in a school many medals for her country, is a part of the Central
tournament he was impressed and helped her to find Government Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)
a place in the Indian team for the first time. Vandana, and is also the brand ambassador of the Beti Bachao-
who played forward in the Indian team, has also been Beti Padhao campaign in Uttarakhand.

22 New India Samachar March 1-15, 2022