Who Is Gitika Talukdar? Assam’s Trailblazing FIFA World Cup Photojournalist

As India may not be a regular participant at the FIFA World Cup Competition but the Indians continue to leave their mark on the football’s biggest stage. So, one of the such inspiring figure is Gitika Talukdar, who recently became the first Indian photojournalist to receive the accreditation for the multiple FIFA World Cup edition.

In the year 2026, she achieved another milestone by becoming the only Indian female photojournalist who has been accredited for the FIFA World Cup. Her journey from Northeast India to covering the biggest sporting in the world which showcases the determination, talent and a passion for the storytelling via photography.

Who Is Gitika Talukdar?

Gitika Talukdar was born in state of Arunachal Pradesh and she spent her childhood across different parts of India due to her father’s transferable government job.

She studied in the Kendriya Vidyalayas and she developed an early interest in sports and photography.

Rather than pursuing the conventional career paths, she chose to combine these interests and to build a career in sports journalism.

Her unique perspective and dedication eventually helped her to establish herself in the highly competitive industry which generally dominated by experienced professionals.

Educational Background and International Exposure

His academic journey played the crucial role in shaping her career.

She has pursued the Global Sports Management at Seoul National University with a scholarship from the South Korean Ministry of Sports and Culture.

During her studies, she researched the gender inequality in sports media, which an issue that continues to influence the sports journalism worldwide.

This academic foundation also helped her understand the broader challenges faced by the women in sports reporting and photography.

How Did Gitika Talukdar Enter Sports Photography?

Gitika began her professional career with the photo news agency while contributing to the local media platforms.

Initially covering the various assignments, she has gradually shifted her focus entirely towards the sports journalism and sports photography.

Her ability to capture the emotions, celebrations, pressure-filled moments and the defining sporting memories also helped her to build a strong reputation.

Unlike the traditional photography, sports photography demands quick reflexes, technical expertise and the ability to anticipate the crucial moments before they happen.

Gitika also mastered these skills through years of the dedication and field experience.

Journey to the FIFA World Cup

One of the biggest achievements of the Gitika Talukdar’s career has been her repeated selection to cover the world’s biggest sporting event.

She has covered the multiple FIFA tournaments such as,

• FIFA World Cup Russia 2018
• FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
• FIFA World Cup 2026
• FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019
• FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia-New Zealand 2023

Her accreditation for the three consecutive men’s FIFA World Cups is the remarkable achievement because of the highly competitive selection process. There are thousands of photographers and journalists from around the world apply for the limited media positions at these events.

Major Sporting Events Covered by Gitika Talukdar

Beyond the football events, Gitika has documented the some of the world’s most prestigious sporting competitions.

International Events Covered by her,

• FIFA World Cups
• FIFA Women’s World Cups
• Tokyo Olympics
• Paris Olympics
• Commonwealth Games
• Indian Premier League (IPL)
• ICC Cricket Tournaments
• International Football Championships

Her extensive portfolio demonstrates the versatility across the different sports and international sporting cultures.

Paris Olympics Recognition by the International Olympic Committee

In the year 2024, Gitika has received the another historic recognition.

The International Olympic Committee directly accredited her to cover the Paris Olympics under the initiative aimed at to encouraging women sports journalists and photographers.

This made her the first and only Indian female photographer selected via the IOC’s special recognition program.

Earlier, she had also covered the Tokyo Olympics where she has documented several memorable performances by the Indian athletes.