Who is Vandana Katariya: India women hockey team's premier forward

India women's hockey team entered the quarterfinals at Tokyo 2020 for the first time since 1980 Moscow. They will take on three-time Olympic champions Australia in the knock-out stage on Monday.

India secured their quarter-final berth after Great Britain blanked Ireland 2-0 in the pool stage contest on Saturday. The Indian eves, however, remained in contention to qualify only after Vandana Katariya netted a hat-trick against South Africa to help them register a 4-3 win in their final pool match.

As a result, she became the first Indian women's team player to net a hat-trick at the Olympics. Let us find out more about Katariya, who has got the whole world talking, with her incredible finishing skills.

Father helped her break barriers

It was not an easy journey for Katariya to pursue her dream of becoming a hockey player. She grew up at Roshnabad village in Uttarakhand, where her neighbours did not want her to pursue her dreams. Even her grandmother wanted her to stick to household chores.

But father Nahar Singh Katariya, who was a wrestler himself, came out in her support and helped her pursue the sport professionally.

"My father used to struggle to arrange money for me from sources that I was unaware of. When I moved to a hostel, I was in a dilemma as to whether I should continue playing and whether I would be able to support my father by doing so," she told Sportskeeda.

Started practicing with tree branches

After breaking the first barrier, Katariya would often sneak out for practice, but she did not have proper equipment to train with in her initial days. She would simply train with tree branches to keep enhancing her skills.

But her life and hockey dreams got wings, when her first coach Pradeep Chinyoti spotted her at a school tournament and helped her break into the India side for the first time.

Coach's encouragement

Chinyoti soon took her under his wings and shifted her base to Meerut for proper training. In 2004, Katariya shifted bases to Meerut and her hard work and potential paid off. She got her first invite to play for India junior women's team soon after.

She soon began to leave her mark at junior level and was also instrumental in India's bronze medal-winning run at the 2013 Junior World Cup in Mönchengladbach, Germany. She was, in fact, India's top goal scorer with five goals in four matches.

Draws inspiration from Luciana Aymar

Katariya's speed, combined with her skills, is useful in breaking the opposition defense and make circle penetrations.

Over the years, she has drawn inspiration from Argentine superstar Luciana Aymar, due to her brilliant skills and abilities.

“She (Luciana Aymar) possesses great skills. In my early days, I had watched her play and used to admire her. I like everything about her and try to incorporate things from her game into mine," Katariya had told Khel Now.

Captained the national team after Rio 2016

Katariya also led the India women's hockey team after Rio 2016, taking over the role from Sushila Chanu, for the 2016 Asian Champions Trophy.

Under her leadership, India had clinched the 2016 Asian Champions Trophy, after overcoming China by a slender 1-2 margin in the final.

She was also later retained as the captain of national team for the Test Series against Australia to be played at Melbourne from November 23 to November 30, 2016 for her fantastic display.