Nikki Pradhan is an Indian professional field hockey player and is a member of the Indian national team. Pradhan was the first female Hockey player from Jharkhand who represented India in the Olympics. Pradhan was included in a 16-member squad for Rio Olympics, which also marked the return of Indian Women Hockey in Olympics after 36 years after a stellar show at the Hockey World League Semifinals in 2015. Pradhan was the midfielder of the Indian Women's Hockey team. Her selection to the team made her the sixth Hockey player from Jharkhand to play in Olympics, bracketing her with Jaipal Singh Munda, Michael Kido, Sylvanus Dungdung, Ajeet Lakra and Manohar Topno.
Early life
Pradhan was born in Hesal village in tribal heartland Khunti, roughly 60 kilometres from Ranchi, Jharkhand, on 8 December 1993, to Soma Pradhan, a Bihar police constable, and his wife, Jitan Devi, a homemaker. Pradhan is the third daughter of Soma Pradhan and Jitan Devi. The people of Pradhan's village weren't aware of her achievements until the news was aired by the media. Pradhan started playing the game at a young age under the guidance of her childhood coach Dasrath Mahto. She enrolled in the Bariatu Girls' Hockey Center, which has produced former Indian captain Asunta Lakra, in Ranchi in 2005.
Career
Pradhan played the first time for India in U-17 Asia Cup in Bangkok in 2011. However, Pradhan wasn't able to get selected for the India's Junior National Hockey Camp in 2011–2012. Pradhan was also a part of the U-21 Women's Hockey Team which won the silver medal in the Asia Cup, however, had to stay out of action due to an injury until the beginning of 2015. Pradhan made her debut for the Senior Indian Team and was called into the senior camp in August 2015. Pradhan also participated in the 2012 Asia Cup in the under-21 category. Pradhan was later selected as a member of the squad of Indian Women's Hockey team, which represented India in Rio Olympics in Brazil in 2016. Her selection to the Indian Women's Hockey team that represented India in Olympics scripted history as she was the first woman Hockey player from Jharkhand to ever play in Olympics. The 16-member team was led by defender Sushila Chanu. Pradhan played at the position of a midfielder, alongside Renuka Yadav, Llima Minz, Monika and Navjot Kaur. The other team members were Deep Grace Ekka, Anuradha Devi Thokchom, Savita, Poonam Rani, Vandana Katariya, Deepika, Namita Toppo, Sunita Lakra and Preeti Dubey. The team, however, got eliminated in the group stage where they were placed 6th.
