The keeper of India's goals

Hailing from Yerravaripalem, a tiny hamlet in Chittoor district, Rajani Etimarpu is the only player from Andhra Pradesh to be part of the current Indian women’s hockey team, which will play at the Asian Championship to be held later this month in Japan. A goalkeeper, who has already tasted success at the international level, Rajani says, “It’s a great feeling to be playing for the country. This tournament is very important for us; we need to win it to qualify for the world cup.”

Describing her road to success as ‘hard work with perseverance’, she recalls, “I first picked up the sport in 2005 in Tirupati, under the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP). My coaches encouraged me and instilled in me the confidence that I could play for India.” 

After excelling in the junior nationals’ camp in Lucknow, Rajani became a member of the senior women’s national team in 2009.

There were times when this champ’s skill and talent were disparaged, but despite all odds, Rajani’s parents and coaches stood by her, letting her decide the course of her life. “Initially, people ridiculed me for taking up hockey. I also missed my academic classes because of practice. But all these things only made me more determined,” she says.

The litmus test for Rajani came when an injury prevented her from getting selected in the national team in 2014. 

“I missed around five tournaments. I was going through several emotions during my recovery. The competition was intense but I was determined, and after a year, I was a part of the team which qualified for the Olympics after 36 years,” shares Rajani.

She adds, “Whenever I am feeling low, I talk to my mom; she charges me up. She is very spiritual, visits temples and prays for my success. And of course, she is tensed about my injuries (smiles) and keeps calling me constantly to check on me.”

Not surprisingly, Rajani is livid about questions around getting married. “People keep asking me when am I getting married  and I get angry. My parents also know about it, so they skip conversations about my marriage in the village. Just because I am a girl people ask me these questions. Why can’t they ask the same question to a boy of the same age?” she shoots back.