Hyderabad, March 6 -- At just 23, Rutaja Dadaso Pisal has already established herself as a regular in the senior Indian Women's Hockey Team, emerging as an influential presence in the midfield and has been included in the squad for the upcoming FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers, Hyderabad, Telangana, scheduled from March 8 to 14.

Hailing from Phaltan, a small village in the Satara district in Maharashtra, Rutaja's journey into hockey began somewhat unexpectedly, as per a press release.

"Before hockey, we used to play Kho Kho in school. It is very popular in Maharashtra. Our teachers noticed that we could run well and had good stamina, and they encouraged us to get into hockey. From there, my journey began," she shared.

"I started pl...