The sports revolution taking in place in Shahbad has added glitter to the gold medal won by the Indian hockey eves at the Afro-Asian Games. Four members of the Indian womenâs hockey team from Shahbad near Kurukshetra are Suman Bala, Jasjeet Kaur, Surinder Kaur and Gurpreet Kaur.
Gold medal assumes an added significance since these girls hail from humble background and through sheer dint of hardwork and countless hours of practice have they reached the pinnacle of success. Even as the residents of Shahbad are delighted with the performance of these girls, they say that Indian womenâs hockey will be revolutionised by the girls from Shahbad.
The girls of Shahbad have proved that undaunted spirit is the key to be a successful sportsperson. Their family background would not have made it possible for this achievement had it not been for coach Baldev Singh.
Mr Amar Singh, grandfather of Jasjeet Kaur, said that he was delighted with the achievement of the Indian women hockey team. âI was always confident that Jasjeet would do well, and we are happy for her achievement which helped India in getting a gold medal,â he said. He added that besides Jasjeet Kaur, three more persons from his family are hockey players.
The proud grandfather said that Jasjeet has to report for practice everyday at 5 am. âAfter the hockey practice, she goes to school. From the school, she again goes for hockey practice. She is currently studying in class XII,â he said. âThe coach, Mr Baldev Singh is a very strict man and it is due to his efforts that Jasjeet did so well in the match,â he stated.
He said that in yesterdayâs final match after the tie-breaker, Jasjeet converted the first stroke for India. âInitially, we were reluctant for her to take up hockey. But, she would go for practice on her own. It is her liking for the game that has brought the desired result,â he said.
For Reshma Devi, mother of star hockey player Suman Bala, the happiness is unbounded. âI canât describe in words how I feel. She has not only made us proud, she has done the country proud,â Mrs Devi said even as the excitement in her voice was palpable.
Working on the handloom when this correspondent visited their home on Ladwa road, Mrs Reshma Devi said that Suman Bala has been playing hockey for the last couple of years. âInitially, coach Baldev Singh said that he is forming a team with girls from poor background. Although we were reluctant, he managed to convince us. The girlâs performance has proved him correct,â she said.
She said that Suman Bala is currently working in Railways at the Divisional Railway Manager complex in Ambala Cantt. âShe would go for practice early in the morning. She gets up everyday at 4 am. After returning from office, she would go for practice,â she said.
âWe had called Suman up at Hyderabad. Suman was thrilled on having won the gold medal. Earlier, she had also done well in the Manchester tournament. We had never expected that she would do so well,â she said. âLaxmi has come to our home,â she added.
The penalty corner converted by Suman Bala in the final match brought India back into contention. It is believed to be the turning point in the match.
Surinder Kaurâs residence was more difficult to find. It is located in Balkar Singh colony. There is no metalled road leading upto a group of houses. When The Tribune team reached her home, her father Mr Sukhdev Singh, was working in the fields.
The smile on his wrinkled face said it all.
âI am an illiterate man but hockey has turned around the life of my daughter Surinder Kaur. I am very happy with the yesterdayâs achievement,â he said.
He said that Surinder had been playing hockey for the past 10 years. âShe has succeeded in overcoming adverse conditions. I am proud of her. It is difficult to explain the role played by hockey in changing her life. She is working in the Railways,â he said.
Mr Manmohan Singh of Unique Hockey Welfare Society said that the Shahbad has been producing excellent women hockey players since the last one decade. âA number of girls from Shahbad have shone in national as well as international tournaments. Our society helps in nurturing talented girls from humble background,â he said.
He said that the girls from Shahbad who have made a mark in hockey include Suman, Kiran, Surinder Kaur, Gurpreet Kaur, Nutan, Sandeep Kaur, Suman junior, Devinder, Balwinder, Meenakshi, Rajwinder, Simarjeet, Sarika, Navpreet and Sonia.
It may be pointed out that astroturf is going to be established in two places in Haryana. While one is in Gurgaon, the second one is in Shahbad. Earlier, the astroturf was being set up at Ambala but it was later changed to Shahbad. At present, the hockey players regularly practice at Shri Guru Nanak Pritam Girls Senior Secondary School, Shahbad
![[Image: sp.jpg]](http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20031101/sp.jpg)
Sukhdev Singh, father of Indian hockey player Surinder Kaur, a member of the Indian women hockey team that won gold in Afro-Asian Games
' />