The FIFA World Cup has finally started on June 11, 2026. The event has built a big fan base in India over the years. But this time, it is trending for another reason. India celebrated another proud moment as photojournalist Gitika Talukdar was selected to cover the event for the third time. The biggest achievement for Gitika right now is that she is the only Indian female photojournalist to represent the Indian media team.
Gitika Talukdar’s name has already started creating headlines over the last few weeks. But the journey to reach this level of success was not so easy, as it involved a lot of hard work and dedication. Keep reading to know more about Gitika!
Gitika Talukdar spent her childhood in multiple cities in India
Although Gitika Talukdar was born in Arunachal Pradesh, she grew up in multiple cities in India. This was because of her father’s job, where he was frequently transferred to different places. Notably, Gitika pursued her higher studies in sports journalism and photography after completing her primary education at Kendriya Vidyalaya.
Gitika enrolled at Seoul National University, studying Global Sports Management. Apart from that, the Ministry of Sports and Culture of South Korea rewarded her with a scholarship. Before establishing a successful career, Gitika did some research on gender inequality in sports media. Gitika started her journey at a photo news agency along with local media platforms. She later became active in the world of sports journalism and sports photography.
Gitika’s grand uncle, Chandra Talukdar, was the person who inspired her to pursue a photography career. For the unversed, Chandra was a well-known filmmaker. She has worked in sports photojournalism for more than 16 years, taking the best and most memorable shots on the ground.
Gitika Talukdar was first associated with FIFA around eight years ago
While Gitika Talukdar’s selection to cover FIFA 2026 has created a proud moment for the Indians and all the female photojournalists, the journey started back in 2018 when she got the first access to FIFA. She has covered the popular football event in 2022 and 2023. Apart from that, she also covered the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019, held in France.
In 2024, Gitika was in the headlines after being chosen by the International Olympic Committee to cover the Paris Olympic Games. A press release revealed that Gitika’s selection was a part of a step taken by the IOC to promote women working as sports journalists and photographers. Gitika also shared her opinion about the same in a press release, referring to the motto of the Olympic Games 2024, which says, “Games Wide Open.” Gitika said at that time:
“It’s an honour and privilege to receive accreditation from the IOC to cover the Paris Olympic Games 2024. I am grateful for their generous decision, which encourages me to work even harder.”
Gitika Talukdar has covered many other events throughout her career. This includes the 2018 Russia World Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Gitika has frequently shared glimpses of her achievements through her official Instagram handle, where she is active with more than 5,000 followers.
What are your thoughts about the successful journey of Gitika Talukdar over the years? Let us know.
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