In a heartbreaking turn of events, 20-year-old Indian women’s hockey sensation, Jyoti Chhatri, who recently secured a silver medal at the FIH Hockey 5s Women’s World Cup, is now facing an unexpected battle off the field. The rising star, born in Rourkela, Odisha, finds herself in a struggle to save her family’s home from demolition.
Jyoti’s family, originally from Darjeeling, had built their residence within the State Sports Hostel compound, a place they have called home for nearly two decades. The modest dwelling, constructed by Jyoti’s father, Bhim Singh, a former mason and security guard, stands on government land. However, the family received a shock when authorities informed them that their house would be demolished to make way for a road-widening project.
Living on unauthorised land, the family was aware that eviction could happen someday, but the recent news left them in disbelief. Singh expressed the family’s financial constraints, stating their inability to afford alternative accommodation. Despite promises from authorities regarding alternative housing, nothing has materialised so far.
Jyoti’s recent achievement on the international stage contrasts starkly with the uncertainties her family faces back home. While she continues to shine on the hockey field, her family is grappling with the imminent loss of their home. The District Collector of Sundargarh has reportedly assured assistance, but the family’s future remains uncertain. Jyoti, who recently played for the Indian women’s hockey team against the USA in the FIH Hockey Pro League, now juggles her sports career with the pressing concern for her family’s housing situation.
