Kajal Jhumbade (14)
Rajawadi Municipal Secondary School
Though 14, Kajal Jhumbade is lean and strong, “I look bigger,” she says, “Which is why the coaches have placed me as a goalie.” Kajal has been playing hockey since two months with the Salaam Bombay Hockey Academy, which she thinks is a huge opportunity for those interested in sports. Kajal always did well in sports, taking part in races all through her school life. She recently came third in one of them. As seems to be a theme with most of the girls coaching with the Abhi Foundation, there is a new found sense of confidence, not only on the field but also on a day-to-day basis. Kajal gives an explanation with some amusement, “A man was chasing us at the train station… and we scared him away!” Perhaps this wouldn’t have been possible a few months back. The second youngest with two sisters and a brother, Kajal lives with her family in Vidyavihar. Her father is a watchman and her mother is a dishwasher. Kajal’s father has recommended she be a policewoman – because of her stance and height – turns out, that is a profession she would like to pursue.