Losing her father, fighting injury, supporting family: Beauty Dungdung’s journey beyond the hockey field

After enduring a prolonged injury layoff and a personal tragedy, 22-year-old Beauty Dungdung has found her way back to the Indian Women’s Hockey Team national camp in Bengaluru, determined to rebuild and refocus ahead of the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers in Hyderabad, Telangana.

The young forward spent nearly two years recovering from a severe knee injury suffered in 2023. “It took me about two years to make a comeback,” Beauty told Hockey India in a press release.

Her rehabilitation period was marked by emotional strain as well. During her recovery, she lost her father. “My father passed away during my injury period. I was going back and forth between home and the camp, and so much was happening at once,” she said. “There were times when I really doubted if a comeback would even happen.”

Personal loss and family responsibilities shape comeback

Beauty described her father as her greatest supporter. Growing up in a small village in Jharkhand, financial constraints were a constant challenge. When she was five, her father carved her first hockey stick out of bamboo because the family could not afford one. He later travelled to other states to work as a daily wage labourer to support her sporting ambitions.

“When Papa was here, I had a lot of support,” she said. “Now, I have to do everything myself.”

Currently employed with Indian Oil, Beauty supports her family financially. She assists her brother’s family, funds the education of her niece and nephews, and cares for her mother, who is partially paralysed and experiencing memory loss.

“It gets stressful sometimes because Mummy is partially paralysed, and her memory is fading. She forgets things easily,” Beauty said. “I explain things to her again and again, but she still asks me, ‘When will you come home?’ My mind naturally goes to her when I am away.”

Despite the emotional and professional pressures, she remains focused on her career. “If I think too much, I will be the one in trouble, so I put all my focus into the game. It feels good to be able to help my family financially. I just try to manage it from both sides,” she said.

Beauty said she draws strength from her teammates. “I have friends in the team, so I share my feelings with them. Even before a match, if I am feeling low, I tell them honestly that my mood isn’t great today, so please motivate me. The team really helps.”

She has since returned to competitive action, featuring in the Asian Champions Trophy and the recent Hero Hockey India League. Known for her running and receiving skills, she is now working to rebuild her confidence inside the striking circle as she prepares for the upcoming qualifiers.

For Beauty, hockey now represents more than a sport. Each appearance on the field carries the weight of supporting her family and honouring the memory of her father, who first introduced her to the game with a handmade bamboo stick.