It is a proud moment for Jharkhand for the first time in the history of the State; two girls have been selected for Tokyo Olympics-2121. Nikki Pradhan from Khunti and Salima Tete from Simdega have been selected in the Indian Olympic Women’s hockey team.
Jharkhand Hockey Federation Vice-President, Manoj Konbegi informed that Tete is from Badki Chhapar village under Sadar block of Simdega district, both father Sulakshana Tete and mother Subhani Tete are farmers, Salima was born on December 27, 2001, her father is also a good hockey player.
“Tete was selected for the first time in the junior Indian Women’s hockey team in 2016 and was as Vice-Captain of the junior Indian women’s team for the U18 Asia Cup in the same year, in which the team won the bronze medal, in November 2016 Tete was selected for a competition in the senior women’s team. She was selected for and went on tour to Australia, in the 2019 Youth Olympics, she was made the Captain of the junior Indian Women’s hockey team and got the team silver medal. In 2019, she was permanently selected for the senior Indian Women’s hockey team which is now for the Olympics,†Konbegi said.
The Federation Vice-President added Nikki Pradhan is from Hesal village under Murhu block of Khunti district and her father Soma Pradhan was police personnel in Bihar and mother Jitini Devi is a housewife, four sisters and one brother. All sisters are hockey players, he added.
“For 34th National Games 2011 in Ranchi Nikki was selected as the best player while playing for the Jharkhand team, after that she went to India camp and was a member of Junior Women’s Indian team in 2012 Junior Asia Cup. Indian team won the bronze medal, for her performance she got a job in Ranchi Railway in 2012. She was selected for Indian Women’s hockey team in 2016 Olympics and made history by becoming the first female Olympian hockey player of Jharkhand. Pradhan participated in almost all big events like Asian Games, Commonwealth and others,†Konbegi added.
Nikki Pradhan is working as Chief Yard Master in Operations Department of Ranchi Railway Division and Salima Tete is working as TTE in Commerce Department.
Divisional Railway Manager Neeraj Ambastha congratulated both the players for their selection in the 16-member Indian Women’s Hockey team at the Tokyo Olympics. In the 16-member women’s hockey team, 13 players are employed in the Indian Railways.
