Preeti Panchal

Preeti Panchal

Personal information
Born	(2002-12-25) 25 December 2002 (age 22) Sonipat, Haryana, India
Playing position	Defender
Senior career
Years	Team
	Hockey Haryana
	Railways
2025–	Soorma Hockey Club
National team
Years	Team	Caps	Goals
2019–2023	India U21
Medal record Women's field hockey Representing   India Junior Asia Cup 2023 Japan

Preeti Panchal (born 25 December 2002) ^[1] is an Indian field hockey player from Haryana. ^[2] She plays for the India women's national field hockey team as a defender. She plays for Railway Sports Promotion Board and Hockey Haryana in the domestic tournaments. She played for JSW Soorma Hockey Club, in the inaugural Hero Hockey India Women’s League 2024. ^{[3] [4]}

Early life and career

Preeti hails from Sonipat, Haryana. She started playing hockey in Class 6 just to escape from home and to be with friends. But she was hooked to the sport after joining the Pritam Siwach hockey academy in Sonipat. She suffered a career threatening injury in 2013 during a district competition and had to undergo surgery. ^[5] When doctors doubted her playing hockey again, her father, a former wrestler, encouraged her. She came back after more than two years of recovery and rehab due to her hard work. ^[6]

Career

Preeti was the captain of the India colts team that won the FIH Hockey Junior Asia Cup in June 2023. ^[7] She and her first coach Pritam Siwach were honoured at a local function in Sonipat after her return from the Junior Asia Cup. ^[2] Earlier in 2022, she also took part in the Hero FIH Hockey 5s tournament at Lausanne. ^[5]

References

1. "Preeti - Hockey India". hockeyindia.org. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
2. "महिला जूनियर हॉकी टीम की कप्तान प्रीति पांचाल का सम्मान". dainiktribuneonline.com. 23 June 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
3. "Preeti - Hockey India League - Hockey India". hockeyindialeague.com. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
4. "Women – Soorma Hockey Club" . Retrieved 2 February 2025.
5. "'We've gained a lot of confidence post winning Hockey Junior Asia Cup 2023,' says captain Preeti". Khel Now. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
6. "Indian hockey defender Preeti opens up on how Junior Asia Cup title win gave team confidence ahead of World Cup". ANI News. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
7. "'Feels Miraculous': Captain Preeti Silences Critics After Historic Triumph In Women's Junior Hockey Asia Cup | EXCLUSIVE". English Jagran. 17 June 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2025.