Vidushi Gaur/ Lucknow

The story of Mumtaz Khan, one of India’s rising hockey stars, reads like a script waiting to be turned into a Bollywood biopic.

Her journey from the bustling streets of Lucknow to international hockey arenas is a real-life Chak De! moment, rooted in perseverance, sacrifice, and raw talent.

Mumtaz Khan, while playing for India

Mumtaz first caught national attention when she scored 0 goals at the 2018 Buenos Aires Youth Olympics, helping India clinch a silver medal.

Her agility, precision, and instincts on the field have since established her as one of the most promising forwards in Indian women’s hockey.

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Born into a family of eight siblings, Mumtaz grew up in a cramped, single-room home in the Cantt locality of Lucknow.

Her father, Hafeez Khan, once a cycle rickshaw driver, later set up a modest vegetable stall to support the family.

Mumtaz, like her siblings, pitched in regularly, helping run the stall while juggling school and chores. It was a tough life, but never one without hope.

Mumtaz Khan displaying her medal

Her sporting potential was first noticed in 2011 by coach Neelam Siddiqui during a school race. “She came up to my father and urged him to let me try hockey,” Mumtaz recalls. At the time, I barely knew what the sport was. But once I started playing, I knew this was what I wanted to do with my life.”

Now 21, Mumtaz plays in the forward position for the Indian Junior Women’s Hockey Team and is representing the country at the Junior Women’s Hockey World Cup in Potchefstroom, South Africa.

“It was my father's dream to see me play for India. I want to give my best in this tournament and make him proud,” she says. Often seen training at the Lucknow Hockey Hostel, Mumtaz’s journey has been fueled by sheer discipline and years of relentless hard work.

PM Narendra Modi meets Mumtaz Khan 

Her list of accomplishments is impressive: a bronze medal at the 2016 U-18 Asia Cup, silver at the 2018 Six-Nation Invitational Tournament, gold at the Cantor Fitzgerald U-21 International Four Nations Tournament, and in 2022, she was awarded Hockey India’s Asunta Lakra Award for Upcoming Player of the Year.

Yet, behind the accolades lies a family that continues to remain deeply grounded.

“We’ve struggled all our lives, but seeing Mumtaz in the Indian jersey feels like all our sacrifices were worth it,” says her elder sister Farah. Another sister, Rohi, adds, “As kids, we always saw her passion. But to watch her fly abroad and play for the nation? It still feels like a dream.” Their mother, Qaiser Jahan, who often manages the vegetable stall when Hafeez is away, shares with quiet pride, “We never imagined this. All we could do was work hard and support our children.”

Today, Mumtaz is not just a symbol of her family’s perseverance, but of a changing India—an India where talent from modest backgrounds rises to the global stage. Though her immediate focus is on the Junior World Cup, Mumtaz is already looking ahead. “One step at a time,” she says.

“My dream is to win medals for India at the senior level. That will be my ultimate tribute to my parents and everyone who believed in me.”

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As the Indian flag flutters over Potchefstroom, Mumtaz Khan’s journey from Lucknow’s narrow lanes to international hockey arenas is a stirring reminder that dreams know no bounds when backed by passion, discipline, and the right support.