Star forward Vandana Katariya marks 250 appearances for India

The forward is also the first Indian woman to score a hat-trick in an Olympic game.

The Indian Women’s Hockey Team’s opening match against Malaysia here at the prestigious Women's Asia Cup 2022 saw Indian forward Vandana Katariya complete 250 International Caps for the country.  

Vandana Katariya has been an integral part of the Indian team since her Senior India debut in 2009 at the age of 17. Hailing from Roshnabad in Haridwar district of Uttrakhand, Vandana Katariya forms an experienced attacking line for the Indian team and has been part of India's several significant feats including the title win at the Asian Champions Trophy in 2016, Asia Cup in 2017, Asian Games Bronze in 2014 and Silver in 2018 among several other achievements.

The double Olympian who grabbed the limelight during the Tokyo Olympics when she became the first Indian women's hockey player to score a hat-trick of goals in an Olympic Games match, started her career playing for the Railway Sports Promotion Board and made it to the Indian Junior Women’s team in 2006. 

Vandana Katariya was the country’s top scorer at the FIH Hockey Junior World Cup Women 2013 in Monchengladbach, Germany where India won a Bronze Medal. The same year saw Vandana being a part of the team that won the Bronze Medal at the 8th Women’s Asia Cup in Malaysia. 

Looking back at the last decade with the Indian team, Vandana Katariya expressed that it's been a great honour to represent the country. She said, "This is a special moment for me to achieve this incredible milestone of playing 250 matches for India. I am happy to have been part of this team's amazing growth over the past decade. It's truly been a remarkable journey for all of us and I feel fortunate for all the support we have received from Hockey India as well as the fans. I thank my teammates for their constant support all these years, I thank all the coaches for making me a better player and I also thank my family for putting their faith in me and allowing me to pursue my dream of playing for India."  

Congratulating Vandana Katariya on achieving this incredible milestone, Gyanendro Ningombam, President, Hockey India said, “I congratulate Vandana Katariya on completing 250 International Caps for India. She has been an inspirational figure in the Indian Women's team and has been part of India's several incredible feats. I wish that she continues to perform her best in the upcoming tournaments and continue to contribute to Indian Women's hockey."

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