In Beauty’s rise in hockey, Dungdungs find salvation
NEW DELHI: While growing up, Beauty Dungdung would often see her parents go to bed on an empty stomach. For Ambrose and Nilima, it was more important to feed their four children than have supper themselves. “I never felt good but couldn’t help it. The financial situation of my family wasn’t great,” said Beauty.
Ambrose and Nilima didn’t just stop there. Believing in the talent of their children — all of whom played hockey — Ambrose mortgaged his land, borrowed money and left his farm work in Jharkhand to work as a labourer in Maharashtra and Goa to fund the aspirations of his children. Since Nilima is partially paralysed, the siblings tried to help by taking up farm duties on someone else’s land.
Shakti, Juwel, Sachin and Beauty vowed to make the sacrifices of their parents count. While the eldest brother played inter-district and Juwel reached the national level, Sachin went a step further by getting selected for the junior national camp, where he still trains.
But it was Beauty who became the first Dungdung to make the giant leap from the small village of Karangaguri-bajutoli from the tribal district of Simdega to the Indian hockey team. Last week, Hockey India announced that the 19-year-old will make her debut at the Nations Cup next month as she was named part of the 20-member squad that will travel to Valencia. “It’s a great feeling to be selected for India. My family couldn’t believe it. My mother was crying. It was one of the happiest moments of my life,” said Beauty.
The beginning
With hockey in her blood, it was only a matter of time before Beauty picked up the stick. Her grandparents, parents, aunt and uncle, brothers, sister-in-law – all played hockey till either the district or national level. In addition, it was mandatory to take up the sport in school.
But despite that Beauty, who now plays as a forward, didn’t have a hockey stick. Her father decided to make sticks out of bamboo for her. Soon, her family realised she had natural talent.
Ambrose decided to mortgage his land and take up a loan to fund his daughter’s career. Beauty was sent to the SS Balika High School in the district headquarters of Simdega which has the only artificial turf in the region. She joined the day boarding centre under coach Pratima Barwa, who also coaches the junior state team and has produced India internationals like Salima Tete and Sangita Kumari.
Joining the centre proved to be the turning point in Beauty’s career.
“I learnt what real hockey was in Simdega where I played till 2019. When I joined, I didn’t even know how to play properly. Despite that Pratima ma’am took me in and trained me,” said Beauty.
It was the combined efforts of Pratima, who Beauty refers to as her second mother, and her parents that she got selected in the junior national camp for the first time in 2019. Within a couple of months she was chosen in the Indian junior women’s team for the an U-21 4 Nations Tournament in Ireland.
Sheer resilience, hard work and top notch on-field performances ensured Beauty became an integral part of the junior squad.
In April this year, the striker helped India earn a fourth-place finish at the Junior World Cup in South Africa.
Noticing Beauty’s performances at the junior level, India’s chief coach Janneke Schopman included the Jharkhand native in the senior selection camp where she impressed with her abilities.
“She has been training well, has good skills and plays to her strengths. So, I felt like throwing her in at the deep end which might be a good way to see if she can perform (at the senior level),” said Schopman.
After years of relentless struggle, things are slowly beginning to get better in the Dungdung household. Ambrose has returned to working on his field with both his yield and income improving. The household income has increased with one son getting employed with the Army while another getting selected in the junior India camp.
Getting chosen for India wasn’t the only high point for Beauty and her family. The year got sweeter when the 19-year-old got employment with Indian Oil. “Me and my family could not express our happiness when I got the job. Not just me, my parents were also crying. I told my mother, who also named me, that I will get her paralysis treatment done with the money I earn,” concluded Beauty.