Savita Punia, the 31-year-old goalkeeper of the Indian women’s hockey team hails from Haryana. Her presence in the goal and solid defence has been a great support for the current hockey team at Tokyo Olympics.

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Punia had a key role to play in India’s historic win over world no. 2 Australia during the Tokyo Olympics quarter finals. She brought her best to the field and managed to stave off all 9 shots directed at her. She did not let a minutest crack appear in her defence. This is the first time in Olympic history that an Indian women’s hockey team has made it to the last four.

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Born on July 11, 1990, Punia’s interest in sports started early in life and it was her grandfather who pushed her to take up hockey. She was initially enrolled in the sports academy and later joined the Sports Authority of India at Hisar.

According to her earlier interviews, her real interest in hockey started when her father bought her a brand new kit. In 2007, she was picked for a maiden national camp in Lucknow, and she started training with top players.

Her game started to shine soon after and her first international was in 2008. She made her senior international debut in 2011 and has played more than 100 games at the international level.

Punia made it to the national team in 2007 when she was barely 17. Her spectacular blocking of two goals in 2013, at the Eighth Women’s Asia Cup held in Malaysia, in the penalty shoot-out paved the way for India to win a Bronze medal. She was a part of the bronze winning team at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games also.