Subhadra Pradhan

Subhadra Pradhan is an Indian former field hockey player, who represented the India [women's national field hockey team].

Early life

Subhadra Pradhan was born on 5 June 1986 in Saunamara, a small town in Odisha to an Adivasi family. She did schooling in Birsa Munda school and pre-university education in Khalsa College, Patiala. She tutored at the Panposh Hockey Hostel at Rourkela during her initial days and started her career in hockey in 1997.

Career

Subhadra Pradhan was included in India's junior team in 2000 and she led the junior team to a third-place finish at the Junior Asia Cup in October/November 2004. She made her senior debut in 2003. She was a part of the senior team that won the gold medal in the 2004 Asia Cup and the silver medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. In 2007, Subhadra Pradhan and Jasjeet Kaur became the first Indian women to play for a European club, when they played for the Dutch club HC Den Bosch in 2007. She was awarded the 'Player of the Tournament' in the 2009 Asia Cup where India finished second.

Personal life

Subhadra Pradhan married Pradeep Naik in April 2009. She is employed with the South Eastern Railway and is currently stationed in Ranchi.

Awards and honours

In 2006, she was given the Ekalavya Award for her contribution to Indian hockey.