Thokchom Anuradha :: Manipur Olympics Dreams 2016 Rio
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Thokchom Anuradha :: Manipur Olympics Dreams 2016 Rio

Profile Of Hockey Player : Thokchom Anuradha Devi

Name: Thokchom Anuradha

Nick name: Nanao

Father's Name: Thokchom Churamani

Mother's Name: Thokchom Ongbi Komolini

Address: Toubul Mayai Leikai, Ward no. 2, Bishnupur District

Date of Birth: February 2, 1989.

Thokchom Anuradha :: Manipur Olympics Dreams 2016 Rio

Thokchom Anuradha was born and brought up in a simple yet hardworking village family. She has an elder brother and an elder sister. Their family engaged in cultivation, pisciculture and other allied activities for survival. Anuradha's brother was a football player but had to quit due to their family's economic condition. Her brother Guneshwar played football as a goalkeeper and was popular among the village and district level.

Anuradha also started her career as a football player. She has a keen interest in the game of football. After playing Football for some years, Anuradha started playing Hockey under Toubul Youth Club. But, buying hockey stick and other equipments for playing hockey was a hurdle for her. But her interest as a player caught the attention of many people in her locality. People from her localities contributed themselves and bought hockey stick and other equipments for Anuradha. In the mean time, Anuradha could also finished her twelfth standard. She is presently employed as a clerk in the Railways.

The encouraging support of Anuradha's father Churamani, brother Guneshwar and her locality was the main reason behind the success of Thokchom Anuradha. With the guidance of Bala from Imphal, Anuradha, by staying at the residence of Bala, admitted to Posterior Hockey Academy Manipur (PHAM) and begin playing to becomes a professional hockey player.

She was trained under coach Chandikumar, Romesh and (late) Herojit. After playing for a year under PHAM, Anuradha was selected to SAI Gujarat in 2002. But very soon Anuradha left SAI Gujarat and joined PHAM again. Anuradha then participated in National level championships representing Manipur. This performance gave Anuradha the opportunity to show her talents.

After many stints and performances at the national level, Anuradha played for India at the Women's Asia Cup held at Japan from July 20 to 25 in 2006. This was her first International level performance. She was adjusted Best Player as she showed her techniques and skill as a forward in the championships.

Thokchom Anuradha :: Manipur Olympics Dreams 2016 Rio

So far, Thokchom Anuradha has played in more than 90 international matches. She has scored a total of 18 goals at the international level. From 2006 to 2016 for a long decade in Indian team where Anuradha has shown outstanding performance in various series including Hoax Bay Cup.

Thokchom Anuradha was in the national team that went for South Africa and London Tour as an exposure match for the Rio Olympics this year. Anuradha took part in the Four Nations Hockey Tournament held at Darwin, Australia from May 27 to June 7.

In the recent USA Tour for the Rio Games, Anuradha played in all the two matches against World number seven USA team. India presently is in the 13th rank. Further, Anuradha was part of the four match series Canada Tour in the run up for Rio Olympics. Anuradha scored in the second match of tour in the 58th minute where India won the match in 3-1.

The Indian hockey women's team led by Sushila Chanu of Manipur and where Anuradha is in the forward squad is known as the 'golden girls of hockey'. The team is placed in the pool 'B' of the two pools in the Rio Olympics where 12 nations are participating.

From the pool league matches four team each will be selected and face-off in the knock-out stage. In the pool 'B' India will competing with World number two Argentina, World number three Australia, world number six USA and world number ten Japan. The Indian team under the leadership of Pukhrambam Sushila is all set to face the mighty team for a medal in the Rio Olympics.

Anuradha's mother Komolini feels excited and happy to hear that her daughter is competing in the Rio Olympics. She was in tears (of joy) when she heard that her daughter was selected for the Olympics Games.

The support from the people is is the reason behind her success, Komolini said. Remembering how hard Anuradha struggled, it still brings tears to Komolini, the year Anuradha was employed in the railways, the time when her father left the family. "Let Anuradha bring laurel to the nation and particularly to the state. Let the love of the people of the state shower blessings to make her win", Komolini said.

Thokchom Anuradha :: Manipur Olympics Dreams 2016 Rio

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