At the same time, a player has also got a chance in the Indian team for the World Cup, whose story is very inspiring. The name of this player is Neelam Sanjeep Khes. Nilam hails from Odisha and started playing hockey in a very tight condition. Five years back there was no electricity in his village. In such a situation, let us know how is the story of 24-year-old Neelam’s struggles.
started with bamboo sticks
Neelam initially used to play hockey for time pass. Neelam started playing hockey at a place where there was not even grass on the ground. In the name of goal posts, there was a torn net on both sides of that dusty ground. He had a bamboo stick in the name of a hockey stick. As soon as he had free time after school, he would indulge in playing hockey with his brother and then go to work in the fields with his father.
However, Neelam slowly started getting interested in this game. What was it then, he made hockey his hobby but it was not easy for him to make a career in this game, because his family was living in such poverty that he did not even have the money to buy a hockey stick. In such a situation, his parents fulfilled the hockey stick and other needs by borrowing from others to fulfill the son’s dream.
Neelam Sanjeep is the defender
Neelam believes that most people in hockey prefer to play as a forward. Because there are more chances to score goals in this role, he chose the position of defender. With this thought, he got a place in the Sports Hostel of Sundergarh in 2010.
What was it then, it was from here that Sanjeev gave wings to the flight of his dream. It was here that Neelam came to know that he can earn money by making a career in hockey and also gets respect for playing for the country. After this, he started working hard.
Meanwhile, Neelam was joined by India’s star player Virender Lakra. Virender taught him the finer points of tackling, positioning on the field and how to get out of the opposition’s pressure on the field.
Source: navbharattimes.indiatimes.com
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