Savita Punia Receives Prestigious Hockey India Awards for Outstanding Performance

Savita Punia Honored at Hockey India Annual Awards

New Delhi, March 19: Savita Punia, the former captain of the Indian Women’s Hockey Team and an accomplished goalkeeper, was recently awarded the esteemed Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the Year (Women) and the Hockey India Baljit Singh Award for Goalkeeper of the Year during the 7th Annual Awards 2024 ceremony held in New Delhi last week.

These accolades represent a significant achievement in her remarkable career, yet Savita views them as a tribute to the individuals who have supported her journey.

Expressing her joy upon receiving the Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr. Award for the third time, Savita remarked, as per the Hockey India press release, “It feels wonderful. There have been numerous impressive performances this year, and I didn’t expect to win. Every athlete appreciates recognition for their hard work, and I am thankful for this honor.”

While accepting the award, she acknowledged her teammates for their unwavering support. “In our team, we uplift one another and celebrate each other’s achievements. None of us can succeed without the backing of our teammates, so this recognition wouldn’t be possible without them,” she stated.

Although Savita could not attend the awards ceremony in person, she participated virtually from Toronto, Canada, alongside her in-laws. She dedicated her award to them, expressing gratitude for their encouragement.

“My husband and his family have been incredibly supportive of my hockey career. Many athletes feel pressured to quit after marriage, but they have motivated me to continue striving for excellence with the Indian team. I consider myself fortunate to have their backing,” the 34-year-old athlete shared.

Reflecting on her recognition as Goalkeeper of the Year, Savita emphasized the commitment necessary to excel in her position. “A significant amount of effort goes into training. Behind every save, there are countless hours spent on footwork, agility, reflexes, and positioning. My coaches have also dedicated themselves to enhancing my game,” she added.

The past year has been particularly noteworthy for Savita, especially with her leadership of Soorma Hockey Club in the Hero Hockey India League. “Hockey India kept its promise of organizing the Hero Hockey India League for women, and we are immensely grateful. We thoroughly enjoyed the tournament, which helped us enhance our individual skills,” she remarked.

Along with the accolades, Savita received substantial cash prizes—INR 25,00,000 for the Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the Year (Women) and INR 5,00,000 for the Hockey India Baljit Singh Award for Goalkeeper of the Year. She highlighted the significance of these rewards, stating, “In the early days, we couldn’t fathom receiving such large sums. While recognition is important, it also empowers us to support our families and do things for them. I believe there are few sports in India where women have access to such opportunities.”

Looking forward, Savita is focused on the upcoming World Cup and the next round of the FIH Women’s Pro League.

“When the nation invests so much in recognizing and rewarding us, we owe it to them to give our best. There’s a sense of responsibility that accompanies these awards,” she concluded.

She also reflected on India’s recent performances, stating, “We had some impressive showings in the recent FIH Women’s Pro League in Bhubaneswar. Winning against the Netherlands in a shootout was a significant achievement for us, and I consider it my best performance of the year. I hope we can continue to improve moving forward,” Savita concluded.