Perth hockey stadium

Hockey India Senior Women National: At 21, Pooja Yadav, who hails from the outskirts of Varanasi, has become the first-ever woman from the Purvanchal region to make it to the Indian hockey team.

She has been training in the senior national camp in SAI, Bengaluru over the past few weeks, and her efforts have earned her a spot in the 26-member Indian Women's Hockey squad for the upcoming tour of Australia, scheduled to take place from April 26 to May 4 at the Perth Hockey Stadium.

Reflecting on her selection, Pooja said, "It was an incredible feeling when I learnt that I have been selected for the national squad. Everyone from back home started calling me. My parents and siblings were especially overjoyed because something like this seemed impossible before, but now they are proud that I have made it.