Hockey India has officially announced the squad for the upcoming Women’s Asian Champions Trophy, set to take place in November in Rajgir, Bihar. This time, the captaincy of the tea has been handed to Salima Tete, who is no stranger to leadership roles. She previously led the team in the FIH Pro League, proving herself as a key player. But let’s take a closer look at Salima’s journey and the struggles she’s faced along the way.
Salima’s Journey to Hockey
Growing up in the small village of Barki Chhapar in the Simdega district, Salima’s family faced tough times. Her mother worked as a cook, while her elder sister took on multiple jobs, even washing dishes for others, to support Salima’s dreams. During the Tokyo Olympics quarter-finals in 2021, Salima’s ancestral home didn’t even have a TV for her family to watch her play. When the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Hemant Soren, learned of this, he quickly arranged for a 43-inch smart TV and inverter to be installed at her home.
From Bamboo sticks to national fame
Salima’s hockey journey began with humble beginnings. Her family lived in a kutcha house, and her father, Sulakshan Tete, played hockey at the local level. When Salima started playing, she didn’t have a proper stick; she practiced with a makeshift bamboo stick. To support her dreams, her sister Anima worked as a maid, even though she herself was a talented hockey player.
What’s even more impressive is that Salima is only the second player from Jharkhand to compete in the Olympics, following Nikki Pradhan.
How Salima’s sister sacrificed her own career
Anima sacrificed her own career for Salima’s future. Both Anima and their other sister, Mahima, are involved in hockey, with Mahima playing for the junior women’s team in Jharkhand. Salima’s talent was first recognized in November 2013 when she was selected for a residential hockey centre run by the Jharkhand government in Simdega. From there, her hard work and skill led her to represent the state team and, eventually, the national team.
Salima’s Hockey Journey
She was the captain of the Indian junior squad that bagged a silver medal at the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires. Salima was instrumental in India’s victory during the FIH Olympic Qualifiers against the United States and shone at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where her team finished fourth. Also, she contributed to India’s success in the 2022 Women’s Asia Cup, where they secured third place, and helped the team clinch bronze in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
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