Bansari is quietly putting in the work, staying mentally tuned in, and waiting for the moment her name is called. \"I have learnt to treat every training session like my debut,\u201d Bansari said. \u201cIt may not be today or tomorrow, but when the opportunity comes, I\u2019ll be ready\u2014not just to play, but to make it count.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Her journey from a schoolgirl who stumbled into goalkeeping in the 8th grade to a rising star in Indian hockey is a testament to resilience and quiet determination. Initially a studious child with dreams of becoming an aeronautical engineer, Bansari\u2019s hockey career began when her school\u2019s sports teacher needed a goalkeeper for the under-14 team. Her height and build made her the natural choice.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt was never my plan,\u201d she recalled. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to be a goalkeeper. But somehow, that one decision changed my life.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Growing up in Gujarat, a state not known for a strong hockey culture, opportunities were few. But that changed when hockey legend and Padma Shri awardee Dhanraj Pillay became the Technical Director and High Performance Director for the Sports Authority of Gujarat. \u201cIf I\u2019m here today, it\u2019s because of Dhanraj, sir,\u201d she reflected. \u201cHe gave me my first real platform. That\u2019s when I truly began to love the game.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Her performance at the Sub-Junior Nationals led to her selection for the prestigious National Hockey Academy in Delhi. \u201cIt was overwhelming,\u201d she recalled. \u201cI came from a place where we played in local kits, and suddenly, I was in a national-level setup, wearing top-of-the-line goalkeeper\u2019s gear and sharing dorms with the country\u2019s best young talents.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
At just 17, Bansari left behind her family and familiar life to pursue her dream in Delhi. She also completed her 12th grade through the National Institute of Open Schooling, proving her dedication to education alongside hockey. Her training at NHA under former India player and renowned goalkeeping coach Romeo James helped lay a strong technical foundation, and she credits him for shaping her into a goalkeeper of national calibre.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI really want to mention Romeo James, sir\u2014he was our goalkeeping coach at the National Hockey Academy,\u201d Bansari said. \u201cBecause of his everyday goalkeeping sessions, I could become a good goalkeeper. He built our basics from the ground up.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Bansari\u2019s family\u2014her father, an engineer; her homemaker mother; a younger sister; and a younger brother\u2014stood firmly behind her dreams, often making quiet sacrifices along the way. \u201cMy parents never said no to anything, even when it meant stretching the household budget,\u201d she recalled. \u201cI still remember needing a new pair of kickers that cost nearly Rs 20,000. Without hesitation, my father said, \u2018Go ahead, buy them.\u2019 At the time, I didn\u2019t fully grasp the weight of that support. Now I do\u2014and it means everything.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Over the years, Bansari has captained teams in the Khelo India League and has played for Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, SAI, and Union Bank in national-level competitions. She was part of the Indian team that won Gold at the 2023 Hockey 5s Asia Cup in Oman\u2014where she was named Best Rising Goalkeeper and followed that with a silver at the Hockey 5s World Cup in 2024.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Yet, despite these achievements, she continues to wait for her senior team debut. \u201cIt is not easy,\u201d she admits. \u201cYou travel, you train, and sometimes you don\u2019t get to step on the pitch. But I have learnt that goalkeeping is a journey of patience. Every goalkeeper has struggled at some point, and that gives me strength.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
She credited legends of the game like Savita and PR Sreejesh for their mentorship. \u201cSavita Di isn\u2019t just a brilliant goalkeeper; she\u2019s a wonderful human being. I ask her everything\u2014from technique to how to guide the team from the post. And Sree (Sreejesh) Bhai once gave me some amazing advice on positioning and mindset. Watching and learning from them is an opportunity I cherish.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With two years in the national camp, Bansari has honed her technical skills and developed a deeper awareness of her game. \u201cGoalkeeping isn\u2019t like math,\u201d she laughed. \u201cIt\u2019s not formulaic. Every moment is unpredictable. But I have learnt to adapt and stay prepared.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Bansari also draws strength from her deep faith. \u201cIn my toughest moments, I turn to Lord Krishna. His teachings keep me grounded and remind me that every phase\u2014good or bad\u2014is part of a larger plan. I just have to keep doing my job. As Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita, Karm karo, phal ki chinta mat karo.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With two years in the national camp, Bansari has honed her technical skills and developed a deeper awareness of her game. \u201cGoalkeeping isn\u2019t like math,\u201d she laughed. \u201cIt\u2019s not formulaic. Every moment is unpredictable. But I have learnt to adapt and stay prepared.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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