Bengaluru, February 26 – At just 22, Beauty Dungdung carries a heavy burden. Currently, she is training intensely at the Indian Women's Hockey Team's national camp in Bengaluru. However, returning to the field has been the toughest challenge she has faced.
Beauty recalls, "It took me about two years to recover," reflecting on her serious knee injury in 2023. She spent months in rehabilitation, questioning whether she would be able to return to play for India. However, the physical pain was minor compared to the emotional distress she experienced. During her difficult recovery, she also lost her father.
“My father passed away during my injury period. I was constantly going back and forth between home and the camp, and so much was happening at once,” she shares. “There were times when I really doubted if a comeback would even be possible.”
Her father was her greatest hero and support system. Growing up in a small village in Jharkhand, they faced constant financial struggles. At the age of five, her father crafted her first hockey stick from bamboo since they couldn't afford a proper one. Later, he traveled to different states to work as a daily wage labourer, all to support her athletic ambitions.
“When Papa was here, I had a lot of support,” Beauty says quietly. “Now, I have to do everything myself.”
Today, Beauty is the central support for her family. Through her job at Indian Oil, she manages household responsibilities, supports her brother's family, and finances her young nieces and nephews' education. Most heartbreakingly, she cares for her mother, who is partially paralyzed and suffers from memory loss.
“It gets stressful sometimes because Mummy is partially paralyzed, and her memory is fading. She forgets things easily,” Beauty admits. “I explain things to her again and again, but she still asks me, ‘When will you come home?’ My mind naturally goes to her when I am away.”
Balancing the intense pressure of international hockey with the emotional sadness at home is not easy. But Beauty refuses to give up.
“If I think too much, I will be the one in trouble, so I put all my focus into the game. It feels good to be able to help my family financially. I just try to manage it from both sides,” she explains.
When she feels overwhelmed by sadness, she finds support in her hockey family. “I have friends on the team, so I share my feelings with them. Even before a match, if I am feeling low, I tell them honestly that my mood isn't great today, so please motivate me. The team really helps.”
Slowly, Beauty is regaining her rhythm. She rejoined the field for the Asian Champions Trophy and the recent Hero Hockey India League. Now, she is back in the national camp, diligently preparing for the vital FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers in Hyderabad, Telangana. Known for her running and receiving abilities, she is working on rebuilding her confidence within the striking circle.
Beauty Dungdung is now more than just a young girl having fun with hockey. Each time she picks up her stick, she plays for her mother's support, her family's future, and to honour her father, who carved her first bamboo hockey stick.
