Hard to believe, but it was worth waiting: Jyoti

This was one bit of news Jyoti Sunita Kullu has been waiting for a long time.

The timing of the Arjuna Award could not have been better8212;a day before a movie based on their historic victory in Manchester is being released.

8220;It8217;s been a long time, I8217;m still finding it a bit hard to believe. I thought that by now I should have gotten it, but it8217;s always a great feeling to be felicitated by your government,8221; said Jyoti, speaking to The Indian Express from her home in Kapurthala.

While players like Jyoti 8212; who have been part of teams that have won medals at the Asian Games, Commonwealth and even a gold in the Asia Cup back in 2004 8212; have had to wait for this award, many of their male counterparts have gotten it for much less. But she does not complain.

8220;I have given up a lot for hockey. My family was never happy with this my choice. I spent most of my years either in camps, tours or was posted somewhere away by my employers, Railways,8221; she added.

It8217;s been 12 years since she first debuted for the national senior team. She has seen the lows, the hardships of women8217;s hockey, but has also been part of the glory.

Jyoti hails from the Sundergarh district of Orissa, also famous for producing players like Dilip and Probodh Tirkey.

She started playing hockey after her coach Subha Kullu introduced her to the sport back in 1990.

8220;That time we had no infrastructure for hockey. No turfs, no stadiums and hockey coaches were a rarity as well. But things have changed. We girls have come a long way from being the unknown faces to the ones who are bringing in the medals,8221; she adds.

Out of the India team because of her fitness, Jyoti says that she has not given retirement a thought and adds that if fit she would like to play for the Beijing qualifiers next year.

8220;That is my dream, the one thing that eludes me, a chance to play at the Olympics. I can8217;t say we will, but let8217;s see.8221;