The State Government is going out of the way to felicitate Bigan Soy for bringing glory to India and Jharkhand. Welcoming Bigan at the State capital on Thursday, Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced an award to goalkeeper Bigan who shot to fame by preventing England team from scoring a goal against India. He thus helpedthe country win the first bronze medal in Junior Hockey World Cup on Sunday in Germany.
Soren commended the team for its fabulous performance under trying circumstances. "The felicitation ceremony would probably be on International Day of the World's Indigenous People or the National Sports day. We as a State have moved a step ahead with this player's achievement," Soren said.
Notably, International Day of the World's Indigenous People will be celebrated tomorrow at Morhabadi while the latter day will fall on August 29.
This is India's first medal in any International Hockey Federation (FIH) World Cup event. State sports sources said the government was likely to pay around Rs 3 to 4 lakh instead of Rs 75,000 which was paid to athletes with outstanding performance. "State government has asked us to invite Bigan's parents for award ceremony," said Sports Authority of India's (SAI) Jharkhand coordinator Sushil Kumar Verma.
Apex body Hockey India has announced Rs 1 lakh for each team member. With traditional drum beats and folk songs, Bigan was welcomed at Ranchi airport. He then met the Chief Minister and Art, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Geetashree Oraon at the Project Building where Soren announced the award for her. Thereafter, she was brought to SAI's hostel at Morhabadi. The 19-year-old tribal college girl of Chaibasa's Bandhgaon village was dressed in purple top and jeans with matching sandals.
"The entire team had trust in me. It was this motivation which made me firmly believe that I will definitely get the chance of shootout," said Bigan while explaining her role.
Born on May 17, 1993, to farmer Nara Soy and homemaker lipi Soy, Bigan is pursuing her intermediate studies and has two brothers.
Her main strategy is penalty stroke which makes the ball movement easy. "My main aim was to hold the ball for eight seconds," she said.
On learning the hockey tricks from foreigners during this event, she said, "The constant speed maintained by foreign players and enthusiasm of not missing a single goal is where we Indians lack."
Bigan has been associated with Hockey since 2006 when she was in class eight after which she was selected for coaching at the Bariatu National Sports Talent Content (NSTC) Scheme centre.
She has played senior nationals this January as well as U-21 Asia Cup in June 21, both in New Delhi, and in both meets, she was adjudged the second best player. In 2011, she played a few U-18 Asia Cup matches in Thailand.
Bigan seeks to establish her career as a Hockey Player but would also like to continue her studies. "At present, I am pursuing under graduation Part 1 at Birsa College, Khunti but would like to carry on with my higher studies," she said.