Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 2

“We are not settling for anything less than a gold medal,” said defender Monika Malik soon after Indian women’s hockey team beat Australia 1-0 to book a place in the semifinals of the Tokyo Olympics today.

Monika, who honed her skills at the Chandigarh Hockey Academy here, told Chandigarh Tribune “the team is in high spirits” and ready to face the challenges ahead.

“Today’s win was special and we will try to make it count by winning the gold medal. I am happy to see this day. We have another hurdle to cross and I am confident that the team will face it boldly,” said Monika while on her way to a team meeting.

The Haryana girl has a long association with Chandigarh. His father works as an ASI with the Chandigarh Police and she used to train under coach Rajinder Singh at the Chandigarh Hockey Academy (CHA) during her formative years. Monika stayed in the city from 2007-12.

Besides Monika, the current Indian team features two other Chandigarh Hockey Academy products – Sharmila Devi and Reena.

“This is the moment we all have been living for. I am happy that my trainees are contributing to it. Monika spent her initial years at the CHA. She would cry after tough training sessions, but was committed. I hope the Indian team wins gold medal and scripts history... such golden chances come once in many years,” said Olympian Rajinder Singh, who is currently posted in Bhopal.

While Monika, who is playing her second Olympics, prepares for the semifinals, her father Takdeer Singh Malik is undergoing training for inter-departmental promotions.

Takdeer, who once wished to see her daughter grow as a professional wrestler, was happy to learn about Indian hockey team’s performance at the Tokyo Games.

“As a father, I want my daughter to give her best. But as an Indian, I really hope that the Indian team wins the final. For me, every team member is as important as Monika,” said Takdeer.

Asked whether he spoke to Monika after the historic win, Takdeer said: “After winning the match, she just said ‘papa jeet gaye’ (we won) and I just replied ‘agla bhi jeetna hai’ (you have to win the next match too).”

“I am happy that she is part of this historic moment. The entire nation is standing with the team. This is a result of sheer hard work,” he added.

Gurminder Singh, hockey coach, UT Sports Department, remembered Monika and her batch mates as a talented pool of players.

“She (Monika) was inducted at a very young age. The entire batch was very talented and as many as three girls are now playing for India in the Olympics. Other coaches, including Manjeet Kaur and Olympian Nisha Sharma, also coached them for a long time,” said Gurminder.

“She has been such an inspiration for all of us. She is the backbone of the team and has been defending well. In today’s match, she showed how to use experience to defend the goal,” said Inder, a local trainee.

Monika hails from Gamri village near Gohana in Sonepat. She played hockey at Government School, Sector 44, here, and also represented Chandigarh in many national events before switching to Haryana.

Monika has now played over 150 matches for the Indian women’s team.