History has been made in Purvanchal as 21-year-old Pooja Yadav becomes the first woman from the region, hailing from the outskirts of Varanasi, to earn a spot in the senior Indian Women's Hockey team. ()
Yadav's dedication at the senior national camp in Bengaluru has secured her place in the 26-member squad heading to Perth for a crucial tour against Australia, scheduled from April 26th to May 4th, 2025.
"It was an incredible feeling," Yadav shared, reflecting on her selection. "My parents and siblings were overjoyed... something like this seemed impossible before."
Proud of her pioneering achievement, Yadav hopes her journey resonates beyond the hockey pitch. "I hope my selection inspires other girls from rural areas," she stated. "They shouldn't suppress their dreams. With family support, training, and hard work, we can see more women players emerging from Purvanchal."
Yadav's path wasn't straightforward. Starting hockey in 2015 after initially playing cricket, she progressed through Uttar Pradesh's junior (2022) and senior state teams. Despite narrowly missing junior national selection multiple times, her stellar performance at the 15th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship 2025 caught the selectors' eyes, earning her a direct call-up to the senior camp on March 23rd.
Training alongside experienced internationals has been transformative. "Just observing their work... has helped me improve my game by leaps and bounds," Yadav noted. She specifically credited her roommate and fellow midfielder Neha Goyal for invaluable mentorship, aiding her with diet, strategy, and insights from years of international play.
Looking ahead, Yadav is focused: "My focus now is to do well and make the most of whatever opportunities I get in the Australia tour... I need to make sure that I play well and stay in the squad for the FIH Hockey Pro League matches."
