Sushila Chanu

Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam (, born 25 February 1992) is an Indian field hockey player from Manipur. A former captain of Indian national team, she played her 250th international match in 22 February 2025. She plays as a halfback for the team.

Early life Chanu was born in Imphal, Manipur, to Pukhrambam Shyamsundar and Pukhrambam Ongbi Lata. Her father is a driver and her mother is a home maker. Her great grandfather, Pukhrambam Angangcha was a successful polo player. Chanu has an elder sister and a younger brother. Her interest in sports began when she accompanied her father to watch a football match during the 1999 National Games hosted in Manipur. He got her enrolled at the Posterior Hockey Academy in Manipur in 2002. She began playing in the Inter-school tournaments, and was subsequently selected for the team participating in Sub-junior and Junior National Hockey Championships, where she caught the attention of the national selection committee.

Career 2008–2013: Junior career and World Cup bronze Chanu made her international debut at the 2008 Women's Hockey Junior Asia Cup, held in Kuala Lumpur, where India won a bronze medal. In 2009, she was dropped out of the team and she used that time to graduate from the Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy, completing her course. She later, joined the joined Central Railways, Mumbai. Later, she made her debut in the senior national team, and was part of the squad that won the bronze medal at the 2014 Asian Games held at Incheon.

Senior India career, captaincy and Olympic debut Chanu was part of the team that reached the semifinals of the 2014–15 Women's FIH Hockey World League held at Antwerp, Belgium. On returning home, Chanu along with Anuradha Thokchom and Lily Chanu Mayengbam given a warm reception in their hometown.

Ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympics, Chanu was named the captain of the national team. She led the team at the four-nation tournament in Australia that was held in May.

Awards She received the Arjuna Award from the President of India on 9 January 2024.