Dinajpur: Arpita Paul, a young national hockey star from Dinajpur, has already made her mark on the international stage with standout performances in multiple tournaments. With her skill, dedication, and breakthrough achievements, she is now emerging as a powerful inspiration for newcomers in women's hockey.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Arpita dreamt of becoming an athlete from a very young age and has won several awards by participating in various junior group competitions for the Dinajpur district team. She was a student in the first batch of girls' hockey at Dinajpur BKSP. After completing her Secondary School Certificate (SSC) from the Humanities group last year, she has now been admitted to college for Higher Secondary School (HSC). Arpita is the younger of two children of Amal Pal and Saraswati Pal, and her journey has been marked by her parents' struggles.
Arpita's impressive performance in local competitions earned her a call to the Bangladesh Hockey Federation's women's hockey camp for the first time for the U-21 AHF Women's Hockey held in 2019. She made her international debut at the AHF Cup hockey tournament in Singapore in 2019, where Bangladesh won a match against Sri Lanka.
Four years later, she represented Bangladesh again on the international stage at the Five-a-Side World Cup qualifiers held in Oman last year, emerging as the top scorer by netting twenty goals. Her father, Amal Paul, expressed pride in her achievements despite their family's financial struggles. Her mother, Swarashoti Paul, shared that their neighbors now respect them due to Arpita's success, even though she initially dreamed her daughter would pursue nursing.
Arpita recalls past hardships, such as not receiving new clothes for the religious festival 'Durga Puja' due to financial constraints. She credits local former hockey player Matiur Rahman for his support during her difficult times. Matiur Rahman established a club called 'Hockey Clinic' in Dinajpur city, where he provided Arpita with essential support and continues to assist her.
Md. Asaduzzaman, Dinajpur District Sports Officer, stated that Arpita is now ranked 10th in the country in hockey, a matter of pride for the people of Dinajpur. Inspired by Arpita, many female players are now taking up hockey, showcasing the influence of her remarkable journey.