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Indian Jr Women: Sunelita Toppo, the 16-year-old sensation who has been turning heads for a while, is set to play as a forward for India in the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup 2023, which will take place in Santiago, Chile. She is thrilled to have the chance to showcase her skills on the world stage.

Sunelita, who was unfamiliar with the sport until she witnessed a few women playing it for the first time at a festival in her village, said, "I developed a strong liking for the sport the moment I watched those women play. I expressed my desire to play to my father, and he introduced me to the coach from the nearby area."

Sunelita began playing hockey at the SAI Training Centre (STC) in Sundargarh, which offers residential training and coaching in various sports, including hockey. Recalling the obstacles she faced, she said, "When I first started playing hockey, I did not have proper sticks. I had to resort to playing with bamboo sticks. However, later on, a relative came to my rescue with the necessary equipment after learning about my passion for hockey."