Six months into game, Roomel gets picked in state's U-14 hockey team

She only picked up a hockey stick six months ago, but Roomel D'Souza is already making waves on the city’s hockey circuit. She is the only girl from Mumbai to be selected in the Maharashtra U-14 hockey team during a selection trials held at Solapur recently.

Roomel D’Souza

The 12-year-old said that she was surprised by her selection.

"I started playing hockey only in June. Since my elder sister Rooshal (22) used to play hockey, I just gave it a try and developed a liking for the sport. When I got to know that there were selection trials at Sports Authority of India's Kandivli campus last month, I went for it. I was happy being one of the five girls selected for the state selection trials to be held at Solapur (November 30-December 1). I cannot believe that I was selected from among 59 talented girls,” said the Class VIII student of Carmel of St Joseph.