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Anuradha Thokchom

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In this Meitei name, the family name is Thokchom and the given name is Anuradha. "Devi" is a name suffix.

Anuradha Thokchom
Personal information
Full name Anuradha Devi Thokchom
Born (1989-02-02) 2 February 1989 (age 35)
Manipur, India
Playing position Froward
National team
Years Team Apps (Gls)
India
Medal record
Women's Field Hockey
Representing  India
Asia Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Kuala Lumpur
Asian Champions Trophy
Gold medal – first place 2016 Singapore
Last updated on: 7 December 2015

Anuradha Devi Thokchom (born 2 February 1989 at Toubul, Manipur, India) is a member of the Indian women's national field hockey team. Born and brought up in Toubul, Manipur, she began playing hockey at a young age and made her international debut in the 2006 Women's Hockey Champions Trophy. Thokchom plays as a forward for the Indian team and has more than 80 international caps to her credit.

Thokchom also participated in the 2016 Rio Olympics, where the Indian women's team had qualified after a gap of 36 years. She was praised by commentators for her roles in India team's victories at the 2014–15 Women's FIH Hockey World League, where they finished fifth to qualify for the Olympics.

Personal life

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Thokchom was born on 2 February 1988 in Toubul village of Bishnupur district, Manipur to Thokchom Churamani, who was a rickshaw puller and Thokchom Ongbi Komolini. She has three siblings; her elder brother was a football player.[1][2] Her family was engaged in cultivation and pisciculture. Although she was herself interested in playing football, she began training in hockey under the guidance of her elder siblings. She said of the transition: "hockey came all of a sudden due to lack of footballers in my village." Thokchom played started playing Hockey at the Toubul Youth Club and later enrolled for the Imphal-based Posterior Hocker Academy Manipur. She is presently employed in the clerical department of the Indian Railways.[1][3]

Career

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Thokchom briefly pltsined at Sports Authority of India institute in Gujarat, but left that in favour of Posterior Hockey Academy; she then represented Manipur in the national championships and caught the attention of the national selectors. She made her debut for the Indian women's national field hockey team in the 2006 Women's Hockey Champions Trophy.[4] By the age of 26, Thokchom had played in eight international matches for the national team.[5] She was then selected as a core probable for a regular spot in the national team; Thokchom talked about the mood in the camp under new coach Mathias Ahrens saying the team is more confident now just ahead of the 2014–15 Women's FIH Hockey World League. She said, "It has been a learning time under the new coach. We are feeling more confident as we realise that while we break the defence chain of opponents.[6]

The Indian team finished fifth in the League Semifinals and qualified to the Olympics after a gap of 36 years.[7] Thokchom played a significant role in the team's draw against the Japanese team in one of the decisive league matches; she carried the ball past the Japanese defence and earned the first penalty corner (which gave India the lead upon conversion) of the match.[8] On qualifying for the 2016 Summer Olympics, she was all set to represent the nation at the Rio Olympics. On qualifying for the 2016 Summer Olympics Anuradha said:

Manipur doesn't have a tradition of hockey. I didn't have any hero to look up to.[9]

Thockchom, Sushila Chanu, and Lily Chanu Mayengbam were praised for their contributions in the Indian women's hockey squad post the World League Semis.[10] The three women also received a warm reception upon their return to Imphal.[11]

Thokchom did not participate in the 2016–17 Women's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals held at Johannesburg, South Africa. Her absence was seen as an instrumental factor in the team's poor performance by such commentators as Jaspreet Sahni of Scroll.in. Sahni noted that without Thockchom as a let of the Indian attack, the team "not only lacked teeth but also kept losing possession in advantageous positions to concede turnovers".[12]

References

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  1. ^ a b "India cheers for Anuradha Thokchom". Femina. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  2. ^ "Anuradha Thokchom". The North East Today. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  3. ^ Samom, Sobhapati (13 July 2016). "'Scoring the first goal in Rio is my dream'". The Assam Tribune. Archived from the original on 7 April 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  4. ^ Chabungbam, Daniel. "Thokchom Anuradha, Manipur Olympics Dreams 2016 Rio Profile". Manipur - E-Pao!. Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  5. ^ "Anuradha Devi Thokchom". Hockey India. Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  6. ^ "We are more confident now: Indian women's hockey team forward Anuradha Devi Thokchom".
  7. ^ "India women's hockey team defeats Canada 3-1, continue great form on USA tour". Firstpost. 24 July 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  8. ^ "Indian women's hockey team play out 1-1 draw against Japan". NDTV. 1 June 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  9. ^ Sharma, Aasheesh (5 December 2015). "Meet the first Indian women's hockey Olympic qualifiers ever". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  10. ^ "Manipur MP conveys best wishes to Indian delegates". Nelive. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  11. ^ "3 key Indian women hockey team members from Manipur felicitated : 01st aug15 ~ E-Pao! Headlines".
  12. ^ Sahni, Jaspreet (21 July 2017). "India can still qualify for the Women's Hockey World Cup but there's a lot that needs to be fixed". Scroll.in. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
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