From Picking Up a Stick at 11 to Representing India at 20: Jyoti Singh Reflects on Her FIH Hockey Pro League Debut

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At just 20, Jyoti Singh earned her maiden senior India cap during the FIH Hockey Pro League 2024/25 (Women), featuring in four matches, including India's stunning victory over the top-ranked Netherlands.

For Jyoti, stepping onto the field in Indian colors for the first time was a moment she will cherish forever. "Listening to the national anthem echo in the stadium when I made my debut was truly a special feeling that I will never forget," she shared.

Reflecting on her experience, she added, "My overall experience was very good, especially our win over the Netherlands on the last day. It felt good to help the team achieve something big surrounded by all the senior players."

Jyoti recalled the anticipation leading up to her debut match, revealing that she found out the night before she would be playing against Spain. "I had butterflies in my stomach and couldn't sleep. The senior players helped me calm down the next morning at breakfast," she said.

She credited her teammates for their support, particularly Sushila Chanu and captain Savita Punia. "Sushila Chanu (di) told me to play freely and that there was no pressure on me and that the senior players would support me. Savita di told me to not take any risks and just listen to her throughout the match. This really stuck with me and helped me in the tournament."

Jyoti's selection for the senior team came as a surprise, as she had just completed a season with the Delhi SG Pipers in the Hero Hockey India League. "I didn't expect to be selected so soon. We had started preparing for senior nationals when I got to know. I called my parents to inform them, and they were very happy," she recalled.

Coming from a sporting background, Jyoti was introduced to athletics by her father, Dheeraj Singh, a former international athlete. However, her interest in hockey was sparked by her cousin, Anuja Singh, who plays for Central Railways. "My cousin used to play hockey. When she used to come home during summer vacation, I used to feel like playing hockey after hearing about it from her. So in 2015, I held the stick for the first time when I went to the same academy (MP Women Hockey Academy, Gwalior) as her."

Now, after gaining international exposure, Jyoti has identified key areas for improvement. "I need to be quicker. Playing the Hero HIL and the Pro League has made me realise that I need to be faster to keep up with the international attackers. I also need to feed the ball better, something that Sushila di does very well. I look up to her since she is a very experienced defender. The way she works and guides other players from the back is really inspiring," she said.

Before making her senior debut, Jyoti captained the junior squad to a gold medal at the Junior Women's Asia Cup in December last year. Now back in the junior camp, she is determined to secure another medal for the country.