New Delhi: The goalkeeper of the Indian women’s hockey team Savita Punia has received many accolades for her on-field heroics but she has not been able to secure a job for herself despite all the success in a nine-year international career.
Last Sunday, Savita produced a stunning save in a tense shootout in the final against China to help India win the Asia Cup women’s hockey title and secure a berth in next year’s World Cup. The save enabled India win the shootout and the match 5-4.
“I am very happy that I could contribute in team’s win. I work hard to bring laurels and will not let my unemployment affect my game,” Savita told this agency after the team’s return from Japan.
“I have been trying for a job for last nine years. I was promised a job under the Haryana Government’s ‘Medal Lao, Naukri Pao’ scheme, but I have only been given assurances by officers. I am 27 now and still depend on my father’s income. I am playing for my country for the last nine years and every time after a win, I hope to get a job but nothing changes,” added the player.
Savita, who hails from Hisar, made her international debut in 2008 and has just completed 150 caps in Asia cup. She started playing Hockey as per the wish of her grandfather Mahinder Singh and starred in India’s bronze medal effort in Junior Asia Cup in 2009.
“I should take care of my parents but it is opposite in my case. My father is a pharmacist and it is not easy for him to run a family with his solo income,” informed Savita.
She had also applied for a coaching job with SAI after the Rio Olympics but did not get any response from them. “Sometimes I get very tense when I see my parents. My mother is worried that I don’t have a job. My father doesn’t express his worries, instead he encourages me to do well and I never let my game affected with my unemployment. But it is constantly at the back of my mind when I am out of the ground,” lamented Savita.
Savita is hoping that the Asia Cup win will help her to get a job. “We have a sports minister who has been an Olympic medallist. I hope he will understand my predicament also help me to get a job after this,” she stated while giving credit to goal-keeping coach Bharat Chhetri and chief coach Harendra Singh for her performances.
Press Trust of India
