\u201cHailing from Manipur, it was natural for me to opt for football. I loved playing the sport. But it was my father who suggested that I should try my hands at hockey as it was not making it into the football team. He told me that if I don\u2019t like hockey, it will be okay and I can always come back for football,\" Bichu recalled.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"Once I started playing, I started loving the game. I used to play as a striker but noticing my agility on the field and my height, one of my coaches advised me to give goalkeeping a try. But I never wanted to become one. It was tough for me at the start, however, as time went on, I started adapting to it. It is true that whatever happens, happens for the best. If it was not for all of that, I wouldn\u2019t be here,\u201d she stated.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Fast forward to 2023, almost a decade since she picked up the hockey stick, the youngster from Manipur is on her way to Hangzhou for the 19th Asian Games where India will be vying for the Gold.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Her career has been on a steep ascent since she made her breakthrough with eye-catching displays in the 2018 Youth Olympics in Argentina, where India clinched a historic Silver medal. In the following year, she was named \u2018Goalkeeper of the Tournament\u2019 in the 4 Nations Junior Women Invitational Tournament in Dublin. She then got an opportunity to represent the Senior Women\u2019s National team in the FIH Pro League 2021\/22. She was also part of the team which won the inaugural FIH Women\u2019s Nations Cup in Spain in 2022.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Heading to Hangzhou with an aim to earn a direct Paris Olympics 2024 qualification, Bichu expressed excitement about being picked in the squad for Hangzhou. \u201cIt feels amazing that I will be representing India at the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022. All those years of struggle and sacrifice have finally paid off. It is every player's dream to represent the country at the highest level, and I am grateful that my time to live this dream is here.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n
To have her family in Bengaluru for the send-off ceremony hosted by Hockey India counts as one of the best moments in Bichu's life. She said, \"It was very special to have my family in Bengaluru for the Sunehra Safar ceremony organised by Hockey India. The smile on my family\u2019s faces when they were called up on the stage to present my India jersey meant the world to me. Seeing them so happy and proud motivated me even more to perform to the best of my abilities. I had not gone home in a long time and when I hugged my mother, I remember, she started crying and hugged me tightly.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Speaking about the team's preparations, Bichu said, \u201cThe preparations have been going well under the guidance of Janneke Schopman. We are motivating each other every day and pushing our limits to the maximum during our training. There is a feeling of excitement too because, for some of us, this is going to be our first appearance at the Asian Games,\u201d she added. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
The goalkeeper also shed light on facing quality teams at the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022, she said, \u201cOur aim is only on the Gold Medal. We know what is at stake here and we will not be taking any team lightly. We have been doing extensive goalkeeping sessions to improve on our mistakes. We cannot repeat the same mistakes if we have to come back home with the Gold Medal, she signed off.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
On September 27, the Indian Women\u2019s hockey team will begin their campaign against Singapore at 1015 hrs IST.<\/p>\r\n\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2023\/09\/all-those-years-of-struggle-and-sacrifice-has-paid-off-says-goalkeeper-bichu-devi-on-being-named-in-asian-games-squad.jpg", "alt_img": "\u2018All those years of struggle and sacrifice has paid off,\u2019 says goalkeeper Bichu Devi on being named ", "alt_title": "\u2018All those years of struggle and sacrifice has paid off,\u2019 says goalkeeper Bichu Devi on being named ", "image1": null, "video": null, "seo_title": "\u2018All Those Years Of Struggle And Sacrifice Has Paid Off,\u2019 Says Goalkeeper Bichu Devi On Being Named In Asian Games Squad On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "\u2018All Those Years Of Struggle And Sacrifice Has Paid Off,\u2019 Says Goalkeeper Bichu Devi On Being Named In Asian Games Squad, Nations Junior Women Invitational Tournament: Growing up in Manipur, a state that has a deep-rooted passion for football, it came.", "seo_keywords": "Bichu Devi Kharibam, Asian Games, Youth Olympics, Nations Junior Women Invitational Tournament, Senior Women, FIH Pro League, FIH Women, Nations Cup, Paris Olympics, Asian Games Hangzhou, Hockey India, Sunehra Safar, Janneke Schopman, Gold Medal, On", "tag": "", "tagging": "Bichu Devi Kharibam, Asian Games, Youth Olympics, Senior Women, FIH Pro League, FIH Women, Nations Cup, Paris Olympics, Asian Games Hangzhou, Hockey India, Sunehra Safar, Janneke Schopman, Gold Medal", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": null, "slug": "all-those-years-of-struggle-and-sacrifice-has-paid-off-says-goalkeeper-bichu-devi-on-being-named-in-asian-games-squad", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": null, "ians_time": null, "server_time": null, "trash": "0", "view_count": "585", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "0", "created": "2023-09-16 12:16:03", "updated": "2023-09-16 12:16:03", "img_from": "Image Source: IANS", "img_source": null, "schedule_publish": null, "news_keywords": "Bichu Devi Kharibam, Asian Games, Youth Olympics, Nations Junior Women Invitational Tournament, Senior Women, FIH Pro League, FIH Women, Nations Cup, Paris Olympics, Asian Games Hangzhou, Hockey India, Sunehra Safar, Janneke Schopman, Gold Medal, On", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "1", "google_feed": "1", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "23", "jio_date": "2023-09-16 12:16:03", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "0", "breaking_news": "0", "google_date": null, "featured": "0", "sports_name": "hockey", "cnmid": "793635", "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/sports-news\/all-those-years-of-struggle-and-sacrifice-has-paid-off-says-goalkeeper-bichu-devi-on-being-named-in-asian-games-squad-8531" }