Bengaluru, Dec 7 (NationPress) Young midfielder Hina Bano may have missed the chance to be part of the Junior Women's Asia Cup 2024 due to challenges with rehab and match fitness, but she is resolute in her ambition to shine during the inaugural Women’s Hockey India League 2024-25, which is slated for January 12 to 26, 2025, in Ranchi.

Set to compete for Soorma Hockey Club, Bano's journey is truly inspirational. The 20-year-old midfielder has forged her own path in hockey, overcoming familial opposition and societal expectations.

"Reflecting on my journey, it was far from easy," shared the Lucknow-born athlete. "I was quite young when my father passed away, and since then, my family has been living at my grandparents' house. My grandfather, Ujagar Ali, who worked as a barber for army personnel, has been my pillar of support."

Bano began her athletic career in athletics but transitioned to hockey based on the advice of her school coach, Abhishek, while in third grade. However, family pressures led her to halt her sports endeavors for three years, during which she trained covertly.

"Coming from a conservative family, I had to stop playing for a couple of years and then secretly resumed my training at school. Eventually, I was selected for SAI Lucknow, and the school principal visited my family to reassure them about my journey. That was a pivotal moment. I trained in Lucknow under Nilam Kapoor, whose guidance enabled me to excel. Competing at the national level opened further doors for me," she revealed.

Bano received her first call-up to the junior national camp in 2021 after her outstanding performance for the title-winning SAI Academy at the inaugural Hockey India Junior Women Academy National Championship. She later represented the Junior National Team at the 2023 4 Nations Junior Women’s Invitational Tournament in Düsseldorf and the 2023 FIH Junior World Cup.

As she prepares for the Hockey India League, Bano is excited about the opportunity to showcase her achievements to her family.

"My family still doesn’t fully grasp what I do. They only know that I play for India, but they are gradually beginning to recognize its significance," she shared. "With the Hockey India League taking place nearby and being broadcast live, it’s an opportunity for me to demonstrate my hockey accomplishments. I want to show them what I have achieved for myself, for them, and for my country. I hope to inspire them and many others."

"I’m thrilled about the future, particularly the chance to play alongside international and senior players. It’s a tremendous learning experience that motivates me to elevate my performance," she concluded.