MAMTA KHARAB: THE GOLDEN GIRL OF WOMEN’S HOCKEY

While India’s world ranking in terms of hockey is only attributed to the men’s hockey team of India, we fail to acknowledge the efforts put in by the equally able women’s hockey team counterparts. Born into a country where women are still responsible for handling the household and the children, (while the public economic sphere is the man’s world), these women have showed immense courage and dedication to take up the dual role of a homemaker and a professional, fighting against all odds to reach where they are today. Amongst many, one name that pops up is that of Mamta Kharab, who is nicknamed the ‘golden girl’ of women’s hockey for her exceptional contribution to the sport.

Born in the year 1982 in a lower middle class family in Haryana, everyday existence was a challenge for this family of 7. Her father’s job of a primary school teacher could not afford to pay for these 7 sibling’s meals.  But that did not deter her family from enrolling her into a school in the locality and further graduate from MD University, Rohtak. 

As for her impressive career, Mamta played a number of National and International Hockey matches/championships for India.  She is the current captain of the Indian women's hockey team. During the 2002 Commonwealth Games, she scored the winning goal which gave India the Gold after 32 years. She also served as the model for the character of Komal Chautala in the 2007 Bollywood hit, Chak De India. Now she is working in Haryana police as a Deputy Supritendent of Police. She is a recipient of the Arjuna Award.

Mamta Kharab's rise is an example of the struggle that women in Haryana have to make to realise their sporting ambitions. If she can muster her courage, you can too. If you have the passion for the game, you should go live it. With the popularity of the hockey league, the sport is regaining its long lost glory. It’s only a little time to see India become the best hockey team again!