Akshra rises from remote Poonch to U-18 national hockey camp with grit, determination

Hailing from the remote Poonch district where sporting opportunities are limited, 16-year-old Akshra Dutta has earned a place in Hockey India’s ongoing U-18 National Coaching Camp at the SAI facility in Bhopal.

According to an official release, Akshra secured this opportunity following her impressive performance at the 16th Hockey India Sub-Junior Women National Championship 2026 (Division ‘C’).

Representing Jammu and Kashmir, she scored four field goals in the tournament, finishing as the second-highest goalscorer in her division. Her performance played a crucial role in her team topping Pool B and earning promotion to Division ‘B’ for the upcoming season.

Akshra’s rise is rooted in a strong sporting culture at home. Her father, Santosh Kumar Dutta, a professional gymnast, introduced her to sports at a young age and remains her strongest support. Her mother is a government school teacher and her sisters are also actively involved in sports—fostering a family environment built on discipline, ambition and patriotism.

Reflecting on her journey, Akshra said, “When I was around seven years old, my father took me to the ground and asked which sport I wanted to play. That day, I chose hockey, and since then, I have been playing regularly. My father has always been my biggest support and motivation.”

Coming from a region where pursuing sports is often met with scepticism, she had to overcome social barriers early on. “In the beginning, people around me used to say that playing sports is a waste of time and that nothing would come of it. But my parents always believed in me. Their support gave me the confidence to continue and work harder towards my dream of playing for India,” she said.

Recalling her early exposure, she added, “I first played in the Hockey India Sub-Junior Women National Championship in 2022 in Manipur. Although my performance wasn’t the best, the tournament gave me confidence that I could pursue hockey professionally and aim to represent India in the future.”

A forward by position, Akshra draws inspiration from former Indian striker Vandana Katariya, whom she considers her role model. “I remember watching a match with my father where India was playing Argentina. Vandana ma’am was on the field, and my father told me to observe her skills. Since then, I’ve followed her closely and tried to improve my game by watching her play. I admire her style and hope to score goals for my country like she did,” she said.

Sharing her experience at the camp, where she is training under coach Rani Rampal, Akshra said, “Before coming here, I didn’t realise how important it is to enjoy the game. Training under Rani ma’am has been an incredible experience. She has taught me discipline, confidence, and most importantly, how to enjoy hockey and play freely.”