Bhopal: These sportswomen have aced through struggles

Bhopal: These sportswomen have aced through struggles

FPJ BureauUpdated: Wednesday, May 29, 2019, 01:27 AM IST
article-image

BHOPAL: The skewed ratio of males to females who take up sports as their career is enough to showcase that gender discrimination prevails in sports too. For long, sports has been dominated and reserved for men, the justification being that women aren’t that much into sports anyway.

On the International Women’s Day, Free Press introduces you to some of the female athletes of capital city.  Their journey has been an inspiring one as they aced their way through struggles and attained success. Their message to the girls who want to make a mark in the field of sports is- ‘Do not give up; you are just one step away from success.’ Excerpts;

Manisha Keer, Shooter

The 20-year-old Manisha, is the first Indian woman to win a silver medal in the junior shotgun event at the ISSF Shooting World Championship in South Korea. She is currently the number one Junior shooter of India.

However, it was not the same for Manisha six years back. Manisha has six siblings and comes from an economically weak background. Her father, a fisherman, makes ends meet by selling his daily catch.

She couldn’t pursue the sport as her family couldn’t afford the required equipments. Seeing her motivation and interest, her elder sister Saniya took her to shotgun trials at Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy in 2013.

Manisha made her debut at the junior category ISSF in Lonato, Italy, in 2015. Since then Manisha has never looked back and will represent India in the Shotgun World cup to be held at Porpetto, Italy in April.

“Girls should tell their parents that they too want to do something for their country. Girls are not just meant to do household works. Society needs to encourage the girls to participate more in sports,” said Manisha while talking to Free Press.

Harshita Tomar,the 17-years-old girl has won a bronze medal in the Asian Games in Laser 4.7 open class, the only event where men and women are pitted against each other.

Harshita, grew up swimming in Narmada River in Hoshangabad, it was sheer destiny that Harshita became one of India’s youngest medalists at a multi-sporting event.

Her mother, Rani was posted in Srinagar when Harshita was born but her family soon moved to Hoshangabad in Madhya Pradesh.

The nature of Rani’s job adversely impacted Harshita’s health.After her birth, Harshita became ill and the doctors recommended taking her to some cool place. So, her mother started taking her for a swim in Narmada and there she took to swimming as if she was born for it. It is only after she turned six, that she got healthy.

It was a long struggle for Harshita as well as for her parents. She was an accidental swimmer before she became an accidental sailor in 2012.

Harshita has won over 100 medals in swimming before sailing suddenly happened when she was spotted by the coaches of the Sailing Academy in Bhopal.

Harshita is also a Vikram Awardee and has earned Yatchman of the Year award continuously for past 3 years. “It is not easy to compete with opposite gender but I never gave up and that’s what brings success. Keep trying, follow your dreams and ignore bad things you hear about yourself,” said Harshita while talking to Free Press.

Chinky Yadav, the 21-years-old has won bronze medal in the ISSF Junior World Cup held at Germany. Not everyone is blessed with all the facilities, some have to struggle a lot like our star shooter Chinky.

Chinky’s father is an electrician at Tatya Tope Stadium-the place where Chinky learnt shooting. Chinky’s coach, Jaiwardhan told Free Press that Chinky was very weak when she first came to academy but as her training started, she showed blossomed into a champion. “She is the rising star of the academy,” said Chinky’s coach.

“There are many problems in a life of a girl but that doesn’t mean that one should stop. Give some time and problems will sort themselves out. The one special thing about being a girl that no boy can understand is, once a girl aims at something, she won’t stop until she achieves it. This applies to both sports as well as personal life,” said Chinky while talking to Free Press. Chinky is also among the strongest contender for 2020 Olympics.

Gauranshi Sharma, Badminton

No hurdle can stop real talent from flourishing and this speech and hearing impaired badminton player has proved it. Gauranshi Sharma, 11-years-old badminton prodigy has scripted an inspiring tale, winning a silver and bronze medal in the U16 category of recent National Badminton Championship in Chennai.

Gauranshi, is India’s number-2 specially-abled badminton player and number one in MP and she practices 8 hours a day. Her parents too are speech and hearing impaired and are very supportive for her game because of which Gauranshi has garnered numerous achievements.

Gauranshi’s favorite player is PV Sindhu and she dreams to achieve lot more than Sindhu. Gauranshi’s coach Rashmi told Free Press that Gauranshi keeps telling her that she wants to listen the Indian national anthem at the Paralympics.

RECENT STORIES

Bhopal Power Cut March 29: Power To Remain Disrupted In BDA Colony, Pebbles Bay & More; Check Full...

Bhopal Power Cut March 29: Power To Remain Disrupted In BDA Colony, Pebbles Bay & More; Check Full...

MP Weather Update: Heatwave Hits Bhopal, Rain Likely In Indore, Chhatarpur & More

MP Weather Update: Heatwave Hits Bhopal, Rain Likely In Indore,  Chhatarpur & More

MP: Cops Demand Sexual Favours From Women Working At Spa Centre In Gwalior, Booked

MP: Cops Demand Sexual Favours From Women Working At Spa Centre In Gwalior, Booked

Lok Sabha Elections: Digvijaya & Son Jaivardhan In Congress’ Star Campaigners List From MP; Nakul...

Lok Sabha Elections: Digvijaya & Son Jaivardhan In Congress’ Star Campaigners List From MP; Nakul...

Bhopal: CM Mohan Yadav Should Apologise To People Of Chhindwara, Says Kamal Nath

Bhopal: CM Mohan Yadav Should Apologise To People Of Chhindwara, Says Kamal Nath