BENGALURU: Barely 13 with dreams of representing India at the Olympic Games, Preeti's world came crashing down in March 2016. During a training session on home turf in Sonepat, the defender broke her ankle bone. Lack of timely and appropriate medical care resulted in complications and the teenager underwent a surgery with a permanent rod holding her ankle together.
Doctors told Preeti she could never play hockey. Most in her family urged her to give up on her dream, but her father Shamsher Singh urged her to follow her heart. The result: The 20-year-old led India to their maiden junior Asia Cup women's title and capped her fine run in the competition with the player of the tournament award.
