Former women’s hockey player Anuritha Saini passes away. He was a member of India’s gold winning team at the 1982 Asiad. Age was 60. He was admitted to the Central Railway Hospital in New Delhi last month due to jaundice. He died earlier this week.
Anuritha was known for her fighting spirit in her playing career. He came from an army family of Faizabad. Played right half. Apart from tough tackling, he was also skilled in extending passes. He lost his parents within a week in 1981. But not broken. He fought outside the field as well as on the field.
Women’s hockey was included for the first time in the 1982 Asiad. The Indian women’s team won the gold that time. There has never been an Asian Games women’s hockey gold after that. Anuritha caught the eye with her stunning performance in that Asiad. He played in Kuala Lumpur World Cup in 1983. She later became the assistant coach and manager of the Indian national women’s hockey team from 2002 to 2006.