Close X
Thursday, December 12, 2024
ADVT 
Sportspersons

Celebrating Womanhood: Sophia Walia, Field Hockey Player & U-18 National Team Coach Canada

Monica Sethi Darpan, 18 Mar, 2024 06:01 PM
  • Celebrating Womanhood: Sophia Walia, Field Hockey Player & U-18 National Team Coach Canada

"I want to continue sharing my experience and opening the doors for girls in high-performance sports. I want to inspire girls in the community to aspire for more and play at a higher level."- Sofia Walia, Field Hockey Player & U-18 National Team Coach Canada

Sophia Walia's journey from a young girl playing field hockey with her uncles to becoming a renowned Canadian hockey figure is a testament to her resilience and dedication. Starting at 5, when there were no girls' teams, Walia embraced every sport until 14, when she earned a spot in the senior national field hockey team, representing Canada. This marked the beginning of a remarkable career.

At 17, Walia received multiple NCAA offers and secured a Full Ride scholarship at Rutgers University, playing Division 1 field hockey. Majoring in Public Health and minoring in Psychology and Education, she managed a full academic load while excelling in sports. This experience honed her time management skills and allowed her to compete at the highest level.

Returning to Vancouver, Walia joined UBC Nursing School's accelerated program, becoming a registered nurse and clinical educator with the Provincial Health Authority. Currently, she is training to become a medical professional. Simultaneously, she delved into coaching, contributing to the U-16 and U-18 national field hockey teams, ultimately becoming the lead for Junior programming.

Beyond her playing and coaching roles, Walia initiated the premier team, "The Tigers Field Hockey Club," representing Surrey in the Vancouver Women's League. Despite her demanding schedule, she wakes up at 5 a.m. for training, works as a clinical educator, attends schoolwork, and fits in a workout, showcasing her exceptional time management skills.

Walia's achievements include a Top 11 award at the national championship, selection for the Tournament 11 all-star team, and coaching for Team Canada. In 2013, she established a field hockey team that funds various charities. 

As the only Punjabi girl in the Big Ten conference and the first South Asian to play at Rutgers, Walia faced challenges. However, she used these opportunities to educate others. Her role models are her parents, Harbhajan and Atit Walia. Inspiration stems from her desire to give back to the community in the form of Seva and motivate young girls to pursue high-performance training.

Walia's aspirations include growing the game in her community, coaching for Team Canada, and continuing her athletic journey. She wants to inspire and open doors for girls in high-performance sports, emphasizing the importance of honest intent and respect.

In Walia's eyes, being a woman is powerful, and she advocates for unity and empowerment among women. Her secret to success lies in tackling challenges head-on and doing the hard things first, a philosophy that has propelled her to remarkable heights in both sports and healthcare. Walia's legacy extends beyond the field, impacting young girls and aspiring athletes in her community.

What would you advise those who feel inspired by your journey?

Don't get comfortable; become comfortable being uncomfortable and challenge yourself every day. And always be grateful for people who see something in you.

What are some of the challenges you have encountered on your journey?

I've been the only Punjabi girl in the Big Ten conference and the first brown girl to play at Rutgers, but the team was accepting of me, and I took it as a great opportunity to educate others about my culture and beliefs.

Also, the fact that I have a broad built and heavier bone structure, which drives people to make comments on my body, I feel not all women who play sports need to look the same. There is stereotyping of how an athletic person should look. 

What/ who inspires you to be better every day?

I felt burnt out after completing my degree in the US. So, what kept me going was my motivation to do something for and with the community. I need to know my why and raise the game for all girls in my community. 

What impact do you wish to have on those around you?

I want to continue sharing my experience and opening the doors for girls in high-performance sports. I want to inspire girls in the community to aspire for more and play at a higher level.

What is your mantra for success? 

I believe in doing the hard things first. Challenge your brain and thought process; for instance, if you don't want to run, then you must go for a run and train your mind to follow instructions.

Photo: Fahad Photo

A Huge Thank You To All Our Valuable Sponsors for making the Gala Possible!!!  

MORE Sportspersons ARTICLES

Meet 2023 U SPORTS Field Hockey Player of the Year Sanehpreet Basra

Meet 2023 U SPORTS Field Hockey Player of the Year Sanehpreet Basra
The announcement of being named the 2023 U SPORTS Field Hockey Player of the Year was a memorable moment for Basra. Her gratitude extends beyond personal achievement, “What makes this award even more special is seeing not only close family relatives support this journey, but also the Punjabi community’s support, along with their positive and encouraging messages.” Surely, the award has become not just a recognition of Basra’s individual prowess but a celebration of shared passion and encouragement.  

Meet 2023 U SPORTS Field Hockey Player of the Year Sanehpreet Basra

Virat Kohli's wax statue to be installed in Jaipur Wax Museum

Virat Kohli's wax statue to be installed in Jaipur Wax Museum
A statue of star cricketer Virat Kohli will be installed in the Wax Museum at Nahargarh Fort in Jaipur. This decision was taken after India's victory in the semi-finals of the Cricket World Cup and Virat Kohli completing 50 centuries in one-day cricket.

Virat Kohli's wax statue to be installed in Jaipur Wax Museum

WATCH: Darpan Chat Central presents 77 year old record breaking athlete/runner, Piara Bhullar

WATCH: Darpan Chat Central presents 77 year old record breaking athlete/runner, Piara Bhullar
Darpan Chat Central presents Piara Bhullar, an athlete/runner breaking records at the age of 77. He has bagged 9 medals provincially to nationally. He is also preparing for the games coming up in Sweden 2024. Piara Bhullar broke the M75 4x400m world record with a time of 5:24.52!  

WATCH: Darpan Chat Central presents 77 year old record breaking athlete/runner, Piara Bhullar

BWF World Rankings: Prannoy soars to career-best sixth position, Sindhu moves to 14th

BWF World Rankings: Prannoy soars to career-best sixth position, Sindhu moves to 14th
After pocketing a bronze, his first-ever medal in World Championships, at Copenhagen recently, Prannoy climbed up three spots to achieve his new career-high rank with 72437 points in the men's singles category. 

BWF World Rankings: Prannoy soars to career-best sixth position, Sindhu moves to 14th

Ashlyen Singh: Empowering Girls through Sports and Leadership

Ashlyen Singh: Empowering Girls through Sports and Leadership
In April 2023, Ashlyen Singh won the BC School Sports Women in Sports & Leadership Award, recognizing their commitment to student-athletes and school sports. Besides teaching at school, Ashlyen also runs Abbotsford Basketball Association (ABA), a non-profit organization they co-founded with their partner, Dylan Kular, to make basketball and quality programming accessible to children at an affordable price.

Ashlyen Singh: Empowering Girls through Sports and Leadership

Malaysia's 'Flying Sikh' bags 12 trophies in Indonesian motor rally

Malaysia's 'Flying Sikh' bags 12 trophies in Indonesian motor rally
The hexagenarian racer, who is famous as the 'Flying Sikh' in Malaysia, used a 16-year-old national car -- a Proton Gen2 -- to bag 12 trophies in the three championships he participated in with teammate and co-driver Jagdev Singh, local media reports said.

Malaysia's 'Flying Sikh' bags 12 trophies in Indonesian motor rally

PrevNext