Overcoming personal tragedies, Nikita inspires KIIT to first-ever KIUG women’s hockey gold

“Life is not about how many times you fall down. It's about how many times you get back up.”

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

Nikita Toppo, captain of the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) women’s hockey team, is an epitome of American educator Jaime Escalante’s philosophy.

The 22-year-old lost both her parents when she was just fiveand one ofher elder brothers died in a fatal accident when she was on her way to U-23 Five-Nations Cup in Ireland three years ago. A year later, she suffered a career-threatening injury and soon after her only remaining brother met with anaccident and suffered a skull injury from which he hasn't completely recovered yet.

But instead of getting bogged down by the series of setbacks, Nikita has made hockey her solace and was instrumental inhelping KIT win the women’s team gold at the Khelo India University Games Rajasthan 2025 here in what was their first-ever appearance in KIUG.