2024-05-03 12:23:09
New Delhi: The family of Salima Tete, living in Badkichapar, a small village of Pithra Panchayat, about 30 km from Simdega district headquarters of Jharkhand, will be very happy today. Salima, who started playing hockey with a handmade bamboo stick and ball, has received Hockey India’s Best Female Player of the Year award. Midfielder Salima Tete, who won this award for the first time, says that getting a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh is a matter of pride for her family.
Salima’s family still lives in a mud house in the village. Father Sulaksan Tete and brother Anmol Lakda produce grains by plowing the fields. Mother Subani Tete is a housewife. Salima’s four sisters include Alison, Anima, Sumanti and Mahima Tete. Seeing Salima, younger sister Mahima also started playing hockey and represents Jharkhand at the national level. Salima Tete was also a part of the Indian women’s hockey team at the Tokyo Olympics 2022. After a long struggle, he reached the Indian team. If Salima is to be believed, this award will also boost her morale.
“When my family heard about the award, they were very proud of me,” Tete said in a release issued by Hockey India. Along with the award we also get a cash prize which is a big thing for me. I got a reward, which means my family got a reward. Tete, born in a very poor family, said, ‘I thank Hockey India for this because it has helped my family.’ Tete, a member of the bronze-winning team at the Asian Games 2022, said, ‘It feels good to receive such a big award for the first time in my career. This is a great honor and will always inspire me.