Akshra dutta

Hockey India Sub Junior Women: Originally from Poonch, a distant district in Jammu and Kashmir, only 8 kilometres from the Line of Control and with limited sporting opportunities, 16-year-old Akshra Dutta has earned her spot in Hockey India’s U-18 National Coaching Camp at SAI, Bhopal.

Akshra received this opportunity thanks to her outstanding performance at the 16th Hockey India Sub Junior Women National Championship 2026 Division ‘C’. Playing for Hockey Jammu and Kashmir, she netted four field goals and was the second-highest scorer in her division. Her efforts were instrumental in her team finishing first in Pool B and earning promotion to Division ‘B’ for the following season.

Behind her rise is a strong sporting environment at home. Her father, Santosh Kumar Dutta, a professional gymnast, introduced her to sports and remains her biggest supporter. Her mother is a government school teacher, her grandfather is a retired army officer, and her sisters are also engaged in sports, fostering a culture of discipline, ambition, and patriotism in the family.