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.
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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.