What began as a childhood pastime on a school playground has turned into an inspiring journey of determination and success for Yavatmal’s Tanushree Kadu. At the age of 10, when she first picked up a hockey stick while playing with friends in 2015, she could never have imagined that one day she would stand on the threshold of representing India on the international stage.
Now 20, Tanushree has scripted history by becoming the first girl from Yavatmal and only the second hockey player from the district after Akash Chikte to earn a place in the Indian junior women’s hockey team. Hockey India recently included her in the 24-member squad for an exposure tour of the United Kingdom scheduled from July 5 to 14. Under newly appointed coach Tim White, the team will play seven matches across Scotland and England as part of preparations for major upcoming competitions, including the Junior Asia Cup.
Tanushree hails from Lohara village and was raised in a tailor’s family that struggled to make ends meet. Growing up in a small house lacking even basic amenities such as a toilet, she faced financial challenges from an early age. Her father, Dinesh Kadu, who earns around Rs 500 on a good day, remained committed to supporting her sporting ambitions. Every day, he would accompany her to the bus stand, from where she travelled 5-6 km with friends to attend Abhyankar Kanya Shala, where her hockey journey truly began.
It was at the school that hockey coach Sahid Sayed noticed her natural talent. “I spotted her talent when she was around 10 and trained her through those formative years,” said Sahid. Under his guidance, Tanushree built the stamina, discipline and work ethic that would become the foundation of her success.
A significant breakthrough came in 2019 when she represented Maharashtra at the sub-junior national championship. In 2022, she secured admission to Krida Prabodhini in Pune, one of the state’s premier sports training institutes. There, she trained under former India player Ajit Lakra, who quickly recognised her strengths.
“Tanu has a warehouse of stamina for a midfielder and I made her switch the role of a forward,” Lakra said. Her growth continued steadily, and in 2024 she was selected by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for the National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) for Women’s Hockey in Mumbai. Praising her abilities, SAI senior coach Pramod Shingade said, “Tanushree moves with exceptional fluidity — attacking in one moment, defending the next. I am sure she will bring laurels to the nation.”
Even before breaking into the national setup, Tanushree had represented Hockey Maharashtra in six national championships. She was also part of the all-SAI team that travelled to the Netherlands last year for an exposure tour. Despite her growing achievements, Tanushree remains humble and credits her success to the support she received from coaches and institutions in Yavatmal, Pune, Mumbai and Bengaluru. Assistance through the Khelo India scheme, including a monthly stipend of Rs 10,000, has also helped ease the financial burden on her family.
Tanushree said, “My ultimate dream is to represent India in the Olympics.” Her school sports teacher, Avinash Joshi, vividly recalls the hardships she endured on her path to success. “What she has achieved despite everything is simply extraordinary. She would often be on the verge of dropping out. She didn’t even have T-shirts and track pants to train.”
Khelo India coach Gaurav Nibalkar described her as a focused and mentally strong athlete who never lost sight of her goal. For her father, Tanushree’s achievement is a moment of immense pride. “On a good day I barely make Rs 500, managing a family of four. But we encouraged her just as we would have encouraged a son. When she comes home, I will prepare a nice dress for Tanushree as a gift for making all of us proud,” he said.
Looking back at her journey, Tanushree remains grateful for her parents’ unwavering support. “My parents never stopped me from playing. My dad used to give me some amount for travelling and snacks and I used to make some savings from that to buy sports-related goods.”
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