New Delhi, May 6 -- From the hockey fields of Sundargarh in Odisha, where the sport is a way of life, young Sujata Kujur is quietly scripting her own journey.

The 21-year-old defender recently made the transition into the senior set-up of the Indian women's hockey team and was part of the squad that toured Australia--one of the toughest assignments in international hockey, a release said.

Reflecting on her debut tour with the senior team, Sujata said, "The tour was a great experience for me, as it was my first time playing with the senior team. There's always a bit more pressure in such situations, but I learned a lot just by observing the seniors and understanding how they approach training and matches."

"The senior players were very ...