During a critical moment in the Women’s Hockey World Cup, Bichu Devi Kharibam made a spectacular save against England, keeping India’s hopes alive in the tournament. In the dugout, veteran goalkeeper Savita Punia celebrated exuberantly, reminiscent of a child filled with joy.
The footage of Bichu’s impressive save quickly gained traction on social media, introducing many Indian fans to her talent. Savita, however, emphasized that this was merely one of many significant achievements that Bichu will experience throughout her career. “She has been my protégé for three years, and I can confidently say she is among the finest goalkeepers,” Savita shared with The Indian Express. “When we play together, Bichu challenges me to elevate my game, and I reciprocate. Our relationship off the field contributes to our performance on it, as we know we can rely on one another.”
Reflecting on the moment that propelled India into the next round of the World Cup, Bichu noted, “The communication between Savitadi and me felt almost like telepathy. I was nervous in the final quarter and kept glancing at her. She reassured me with hand signals to stay calm. Once I received that comfort, I focused on executing my role.”
Savita, a 36-year-old from Haryana, finds joy in discussing her relationship with Bichu, who is 25 and hails from Manipur. Bichu, had she been asked in her youth, would have envisioned herself as a member of the Indian women’s football team in 2026. However, when she arrived at a local training academy, she found no openings in football. After shedding tears, she heeded her father’s advice and took up hockey instead.
Bichu’s journey has seen her evolve through various stages, constantly adapting to reach her current level of play. Initially starting as a forward, she was encouraged by P Nilakomol Singh, an Olympian from the 1984 Games, to transition to the goalkeeper position due to her physique. “I was completely unfamiliar with hockey. I started as a striker, but Nilakomol sir advised me to become a goalkeeper, and I had no idea what to expect,” Bichu recalled.
In 2015, she relocated to the Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy to further develop her skills. During this time, Bichu also needed to improve her Hindi to effectively communicate with her coaches and teammates. “Honestly, mastering Hindi felt more challenging than learning goalkeeping back then, but it was essential for my growth. I picked up Hindi by watching TV news channels,” she remarked.
All her hard work paid off when she made her senior debut for India in 2022, although she primarily served as an understudy to Savita, recognized as one of the world’s top goalkeepers. Bichu’s career has involved significant waiting periods, whether transitioning from junior competitions after earning a medal at the Youth Olympics in 2018 or becoming a regular member of the senior squad. This patience has fortified her resilience, enabling her to confront the world’s best with confidence.
“Every goalkeeper must exercise patience. There are instances when the ball doesn’t even come near my circle. Such matches teach you to be patient while remaining alert,” Bichu explained.
In her early days, she was not always so composed. “I was quite aggressive when I first started, which had its pros and cons,” she noted. The nurturing influence of Savita and former coach Janneke Schopman was crucial in cultivating a more patient approach in Bichu. “While calmness develops with experience, Savitadi played a significant role. After her games, I would bombard her with questions about her thought process during critical moments,” Bichu said.
To help her manage her aggression and become more composed, Schopman recommended that Bichu read self-help literature. “I engaged with books like ‘30 Days, 30 Challenges’ and embraced the challenges to cultivate my calmness. It all contributed to my growth,” she added.
Current coach Sjoerd Marjine succinctly described Bichu as “Rock Solid,” encapsulating her performance during the World Cup, where the Indian women’s team achieved a remarkable fifth-place finish, outperforming notable teams like Germany, China, and England.
As the Indian team heads to Japan for the Asian Games, with hopes of securing Olympic qualification, Bichu’s patience, shot-stopping skills, and strong mentality will be pivotal to their success.
Pritish Raj is part of The Indian Express sports team and operates from New Delhi.
