From A Toxic Home To The Tokyo Olympics

Brut India

She started playing hockey to escape a difficult life at home. Now, she is part of the Indian women’s hockey team that came tantalisingly close to a historic Olympics medal. Midfielder Neha Goyal spoke to Brut about her journey.

Transcript

00:00This is my first time. I am very excited.

00:04It's my first Olympics.

00:06I just want to win a medal.

00:23Whenever I used to come home,

00:25my parents used to fight a lot.

00:27Sometimes they didn't even come home for a year or two.

00:39My mother took care of me alone.

00:41My father passed away four years ago.

00:44So my mother took care of me and my three sisters.

00:47At that time, there was nothing at home.

00:57There were a lot of problems.

00:59In food, in clothes.

01:17My mother used to scold me and ask me why I wasn't playing.

01:24I told her that my shoes were torn and I couldn't run.

01:38She saw that the ball was very big.

01:40Her husband, Kudip Sivaj,

01:43he went to the shop and bought shoes for me.

01:57The family that I came from,

02:00my mother, everyone told me not to go, not to send me.

02:05That someone would kidnap me.

02:07If my parents support me,

02:09the child automatically grows up.

02:12Just keep doing hard work.

02:15If we don't get anything,

02:17we shouldn't give up hard work.

02:24I am very excited.

02:25It feels good that I have taken care of my family.

02:30I got my sister married and got a job.

02:33My mother is happy because of me.

02:43She has been injured a lot.

02:46But she manages to play so well.

02:49If she can do it, why can't I?

03:02This is my first Olympic Games.

03:04I am very excited.

03:06This is my first Olympic Games.

03:08I have worked very hard for this.

03:10I didn't know what an Olympic Games was.

03:12But when I found out,

03:14I knew that I had to play.

03:16I have to win a medal.

03:21I just want to win a medal.

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