Bilkul Online
Ahmedabad | 26 Dec 2025
With the start of the second season of the Hockey India League (HIL) , rising star goalkeeper Bansari Solanki is all set for an exciting campaign with the SG Pipers. The 23- year-old from Surat , who is steadily making her mark in Indian hockey , is eager to learn and grow under the guidance of SG Pipers head coach Sophie Geerts and assistant coach Helen Mary , a former member of the Indian national team whom she admires a lot .
Born in Surat, Bansari had no history of sports in his family , but he remembers holding a hockey stick for the first time in seventh grade. After playing as a defender in his early days , he easily adapted to the goalkeeping role. It was a role she immediately attached herself to and which she continues to play with passion. She represents the Income Tax Department and has also represented Uttar Pradesh in national competitions and is currently working in the Income Tax Department.
Bansari played her first major international match against China in the FIH Pro League 2025 , which she considers a pivotal moment in her career progression. Though she has yet to participate in the Olympic Games , her ambition is clear , “ I want to represent India in the Olympics and aim to make it to the podium.”
Reflecting on her journey , she says that the Indian hockey culture has shaped her in many ways , instilling in her a competitive spirit , a fierce fighting spirit and the discipline to work hard towards her ultimate goals. As he prepares to represent SG Pipers in the HIL , Bansari is excited about sharing the field with players from different countries. “The benefits are huge. We work together , learn about each other’s hockey culture and style , and help grow the game at national and global levels.”
Away from the playground , Bansari enjoys painting , reading and listening to music. Her all-time favorite song is ‘ Saiyan ‘ by Kailash Kher. She practices breathing exercises and meditation as part of her daily routine. She draws inspiration from sportsmen like Novak Djokovic for his tenacity and never-give-up attitude, and the late Kobe Bryant for his iconic mamba mentality . I can support him in his career and share family responsibilities.”
SG Pipers will play their first match of the season against Ranchi Royals on December 28 .