“I never played hockey to represent India, nor to get a job… I played hockey to build a house for parents…” Rani Rampal

Most Indian atheletes had faced this problem. And Swapna Burman is no exception. The 2018 Asian Games gold medalist is now reeling under tremendous pressure to meet the country’s expectation in 2020 Tokyo Olympics. “I am now more afraid than I was before the Asian Games. The expectation on me is tremendous. Everybody wants me to win a Olympic medal, “ said Burman at the #East Conclave 2018 organised by India Today. Along with Swapna, Indian hockey captain Rani Rampal and former Indian cricket captain Jhulan Goswami also attended the session. And both shared their experience on how diffcult it was to convince their family that they want to take up sports as career. However, while Jhulan’s childhood dream was to play cricket for India, Rani had a altogether different dream and reason to play hockey. “I just wanted to play one match for India, I just wanted to bowl at least one over for my country, I just wanted to take atleast one wicket in that one over. Yes, I have realised my dream,” said Jhulan. Rani’s childhood ‘ambition’ was not to represent India. “I never played hockey to represent India, nor to get a job. I just wanted to build a home for my parents. I knew it very well that it is possible for me if I play hockey,” she said.