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Nikita Toppo’s journey from personal loss and injury setbacks to leading Odisha to KITG 2026 gold reflects grit and belief, as she pushes for a long-awaited spot in Team India.
Nikita Toppo is on the cusp of a comeback she has long waited for. (Picture Credit: Aakash Biswas)
Etched in pride and celebration, Odisha Day 2026 turned truly unforgettable as the state’s women’s and men’s hockey teams clinched gold medals at the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games (KTIG) in Raipur.
The jubilation doubled with twin podium finishes; first, the women edged past Mizoram 1-0 in a tight final, and later, the men stamped their authority with a commanding 4-1 win over Jharkhand to seal the yellow metal.
As rightly envisioned by the Government of India, the KITG has let the athletes from the tribal communities dare to dream. Dream about playing for the country someday after getting noticed on such national platforms. Just like the women’s captain, Nikita Toppo.
From thrashing Madhya Pradesh 8-0 in the semis to taking the defensive route against Mizoram in the final, Toppo’s leadership took Odisha to a podium finish. Her team began the campaign with clarity of finishing at the top of the group tally, with spot-on strategies and solid homework.
“It was a tough game [against Mizoram]. They tried really hard till the half time to score. But thankfully, we converted our penalty corner and kept the lead with a defensive approach in the final quarter,” Nikta said after winning the KITG 2026 gold in women’s hockey.
This gold carries the weight of a journey marked by loss and resilience.
Nikita, who comes from Kukuda village in Rajgangpur, began her hockey journey in 2012 under coach Dominique Toppo. In 2016, she moved to the Sports Hostel in Panposh before shifting bases to Jamshedpur, where she joined the Naval Tata Hockey Academy in 2020, rising steadily with appearances at the age-group level for India.
Her progress, however, was disrupted in 2023 by an ACL injury ahead of the Women’s Asia Cup, delaying her senior India debut. Around the same time, her stint at the academy ended, forcing her to return home.
The setbacks off the field were even harsher. She lost both her parents at the age of five.
Three years ago, one of her elder brothers died in a fatal accident while she was en route to the U-23 Five-Nations Cup in Ireland, where India clinched a silver medal. A year later came her injury, while she was jolted by another blow as her only remaining brother suffered a skull injury in an accident and is yet to fully recover.
Nikita has channelled it all into hockey. She played a key role in Odisha’s victory at the KITG 2026, boosting her chances of breaking into the senior Indian women’s team.
“Yes. I hope some of my teammates get the opportunity to play for India after the performance at the Khelo India Tribal Games. We are determined to give one hundred percent. We just want to play our game and showcase our capabilities. We want to show that we can also compete,” Nikita said.
“If the selectors are watching, they must notice Odisha’s performance,” she added.
The success of Nikita and her teammates signify the Odisha Government’s relentless efforts in strengthening the ecosystem of Indian hockey. Dilip Tirkey, Hockey India chief, has been the flag bearer of the sport in Odisha and is being looked up to by many, including Nikita.
“Odisha has played a major role in redefining hockey in the country. The credit goes mainly to former captain and current Hockey India President Dilip Tirkeywho has been supporting us constantly. He has been taking care of us. We often have healthy discussions, and we, the players, listen to whatever he says,” she added.
Nikita’s leadership qualities were on display during Odisha’s road to the KITG gold. In the semis, she banked on her team’s experience against MP, which mostly had rookie players in the mix. She knew Mizoram would come hard at them, and thus, they cleverly changed their strategy in the final.
Leadership isn’t new to her, as she successfully led the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) women’s hockey team at the Khelo India University Games in Rajasthan last year and took gold. She also led Odisha to gold at the University Games in Bhubaneshwar.
“So, I know a thing or two about captaincy. Having won the Gold Medal in the recently concluded tournament has boosted my confidence. I’m managing and guiding my team better,” she said.
Setbacks have only added to her resolve. Now back on the field, representing Odisha and leading the side, Nikita finds herself on the cusp of a comeback she has long waited for.
“Had I not suffered the injury; I would have been a member of India’s senior women’s team.”
“The way we have trained, we target to make it to the senior India camp. For that, we have to show our calibre at the senior national games. Nothing less than gold would suffice.”
Raipur, India, India
April 02, 2026, 2:16 PM IST
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