From running for speed to hockey glory, Jhansi's Jyoti set for Oz tour

Can running give one a chance to play hockey for India at the international level? Yes, it's quite possible if you are Jyoti Singh from Jhansi.

- Sharad Deep

LUCKNOW: Can running give one a chance to play hockey for India at the international level? Yes, it's quite possible if you are Jyoti Singh from Jhansi. Her swift running at the trials attracted the attention of a hockey coach, who asked her to run with a hockey stick with the same speed, and it earned her a lot of success.

Jyoti, one of the new faces in the senior women's team for the Australia tour, scheduled to take place from April 26 to May 4 at the Perth Hockey Stadium, is excited to rub shoulders with top guns of Australia. India will take on Australia A in the first two games, followed by three matches against the senior Australian team.

"Coach Sir asked me to run on the ground at the trials. After seeing my speed, he asked me to start playing hockey. That day reminds me how I started playing hockey and (am) now playing for India," Jyoti, 20, said on Thursday.

"Every match gives me confidence, and I believe in hard work," said Jyoti, who feels that experience on the Australia tour would be a crucial preparatory assignment ahead of the team's European leg of the FIH Pro League 2024-25, set to be held in June.