Langbahn Team – Weltmeisterschaft

Preeti (field hockey)

Preeti Panchal (born 25 December 2002)[1] is an Indian field hockey player from Haryana.[2] She plays for the India women's national field hockey team as a defender. She plays for Railway Sports Promotion Board and Hockey Haryana in the domestic tournaments. She played for JSW Soorma Hockey Club, in the inaugural Hero Hockey India Women’s League 2024.[3][4]

Early life and career

Preeti hails from Sonipat, Haryana. She started playing hockey in Class 6 just to escape from home and to be with friends. But she was hooked to the sport after joining the Pritam Siwach hockey academy in Sonipat. She suffered a career threatening injury in 2013 during a district competition and had to undergo surgery.[5] When doctors doubted her playing hockey again, her father, a former wrestler, encouraged her. She came back after more than two years of recovery and rehab due to her hard work.[6]

Career

Preeti was the captain of the India colts team that won the FIH Hockey Junior Asia Cup in June 2023.[7] She and her first coach Pritam Siwach were honoured at a local function in Sonipat after her return from the Junior Asia Cup.[2] Earlier in 2022, she also took part in the Hero FIH Hockey 5s tournament at Lausanne.[5]

References