Nisha Warsi

Nisha Warsi
Warsi in August 2022
Personal information
Born (1995-07-09) 9 July 1995 (age 29)
Sonipat, Haryana, India
Height 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Playing position Defender
Club information
Current club Railways
Senior career
Years Team
Railways
National team
Years Team Caps Goals
2019– India 89 (1)
Medal record
Women's field hockey
Representing  India
Asian Games
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Hangzhou Team
Commonwealth Games
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Birmingham Team
Asia Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Muscat
Asian Champions Trophy
Gold medal – first place 2023 Ranchi
FIH Nations Cup
Gold medal – first place 2022 Spain

Nisha Warsi (born 9 July 1995), known mononymously as Nisha, is an Indian field hockey player from Sonipat Haryana competed in 2020 Summer Olympics (Tokyo Olympic).[1]

Early life

Nisha Warsi had modest aspirations as a child. She had always had a strong desire to participate in sports, but she wanted to do it in a way that would not drain her parents’ bank account. Her family couldn't afford much, so any opportunity to earn money via sports was always appreciated. She went with hockey.[2] Her father, Sohrab Ahamad, was a tailor before a stroke in 2015 left him paralyzed and forced him to quit.[3] Her mother, Mahroon, worked in a foam manufacturing factory for a few years before Nisha landed a job with the Railways.[4]

At one point, social barriers forced Nisha to quit the game. However, her coach Siwach convinced her parents to allow her to chase her dreams. Thankfully, the break was brief. "The ground was about 30 minutes away and she had to leave home by 4.30 am. Nisha was scared to travel alone. Nisha's father would drop her on his bicycle and my mother would be up and about at 4 am to start her daily chores which began with waking Nisha up and making breakfast. In time, Nisha became a regular member of the Haryana team and later the Railways unit. The earnings made life at home a lot more comfortable."[5]

Career

She made her international debut in 2019 at the FIH Finals Series in Hiroshima and has since earned nine India caps. Like the rest of the world, the pandemic wasn't easy on Nisha, who spent the better part of the past year-and-a-half at the national camp in SAI, South Centre. Cut to 2021, and Nisha is headed for the Tokyo Olympics.[6] She harbours the dream of standing on the podium, arms interlinked with her India hockey teammates and making the country and her parents proud. On the international scene, Nisha was a late bloomer,[7] having missed out on the junior India team.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Hockey NISHA". Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Mocked by Relatives, Tailor's Daughter Nisha Warsi Now Soars to Make a Mark in Hockey". No. News18. News18. News18. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Battling Father's Paralysis, Financial Crunch: Nisha Warsi Makes It To Olympic Hockey Team". SheThePeople. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Family wanted Nisha Warsi to quit hockey, but she changed their mindset". The Tribune India. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Tokyo olympics 2020: हॉकी प्लेयर निशा वारसी के लिए मां ने फैक्ट्री में किया काम, परेशानियों से नहीं मानी हार, अब बेटी ओलंपिक में कर रही दम". Patrika. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Women's hockey stars Nisha Warsi and Neha Goyal: Childhood friends living the Olympic dream together". ESPN.
  7. ^ "Olympics 2020 बेटियों पर नाज़ है: पिता थे दर्जी, मां ने फैक्ट्री में किया काम... ऐसे हॉकी स्टार बनीं निशा". Aajtak. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Olympics: Tailor's daughter Nisha Warsi vaults over hurdles to make a mark in hockey". Times of India. Times of India. Times of India. Retrieved 12 August 2021.