Ashoka Women’s Football Team Member Journals her Resilient Journey

I have been playing football since the 5th grade. Initially, it wasn’t passion that attracted me to the game – it was simply a way to make friends. I saw the hype around upcoming tournaments and wanted to be part of that world. But the more I played, the more I realised how much I loved it. Football very quickly became more than a game; it was freedom. Running on the field, feeling the rush of the game – I felt alive, a sense of belonging like nothing else.

When I came to Ashoka, I played my first game without fear. I knew instantly that this was where I belonged. The field became my second home, and my teammates became my family – people I could count on for anything and everything. That remains true to this day.

In my first year, I had the privilege of playing alongside seniors who were not only incredible players but also inspiring people. They balanced academics and sports so effortlessly, teaching me what it meant to be dedicated. I remember watching them study before a match and then step onto the field and score banger goals. I miss those days – being the junior on the team, and being looked after by my seniors, especially during tournaments. Now, that I am a senior, I find myself looking at the juniors, giving them the same advice and care that I had been given.

Ashoka’s women’s football team has always been a strong force, winning most matches and tournaments. In my first year, we were almost unbeatable. But this year has been different. Since the seniors graduated, the responsibility now rests on us. We weren’t used to losing, so when we played in Shiv Nadar University’s tournament and got knocked out in the quarter-finals, it came as a shock to us. It wasn’t just a loss – it was a wake-up call, a moment that tested our resilience both on and off the field.

That defeat wasn’t easy to process. We had gone into the match confident, expecting to win, but reality played out differently. So right after the tournament, we gave each other the space to process the loss in our own ways. A few days later, we met over dinner to reflect – not just on what went wrong, but on how we could improve. That one conversation set the tone for a new approach to our practice sessions. Now, after every practice, during our cooldown, we take time to discuss what went well and what could be better. This ritual has helped us not only exchange constructive feedback but also learn to be vulnerable with each other. And vulnerability matters – especially when building a united team.

We take responsibility for our mistakes, support each other, and are learning to embrace defeat just as we embrace victory. Winning is fun, but losing is also important because only when you lose do you understand how resilient you are and can be in times of crisis. Losing has made us better players and most importantly better friends – friends who ball together as a team, so basically we win together, we lose together, and we grow together. And in the end, that’s what truly matters.

– Written by Priyanshi Singh, a Second-year UG student at Ashoka University