Khelo India: Haryana athletes who battled the odds and made it big in sporting arena

New Delhi: Hosts Haryana are on a medal winning spree in the ongoing Khelo India Youth Games. Displaying their strong sporting skills, the athletes launched a winning campaign by clinching medals under various categories and have also sustained the momentum while Games draw to a close.

As per latest updates, Haryana is topping the medals tally with 42 gold in its kitty and hopes to win many more, as at least 20 of its athletes are in the final round in the Boxing category.

Many ‘Unprivileged’ athletes bring glory to Haryana

Haryana athletes have not only brought laurel to their state but also beaten many odds to claim the coveted title. Many of the athletes belong to poor & unprivileged class but with sheer grit & determination made it big in the sporting arena.

Sonam, who led Haryana’s hockey team to gold win comes from a very humble background and is the daughter of a mason. Sonam initially had the jitters in the Game but her extraordinary game & goals in the tournament shaped Haryana’s title victory in Hockey.

Recalling the harships, she said that it was really difficult for family to meet her sporting expenses. Her coach Gurbaj Singh’s pep talk & support also boosted her spirits to not just play but excel in the game.

Karnal girl wins gold in recurve archery

Ridhi Phor is another Haryana girl who, despite humble origins & limited resources, made it big in archery in the Khelo India Youth games. She won gold in the recurve archery. Hailing from Karnal, she trained herself in the sport at the house terrace and was guided by her father Manoj Kumar.

“I owe my success to my father,” she said, after winning gold medal.

Ridhi’s tryst with archery began in Karnal after his father encouraged her to take up the sport. Manoj Kumar, his father set up archery facilities on the terrace where she would train herself for hours.

His father didn’t know much about the game but wanted her daughter to make it big. He studied about the sport, reserached on it and then went on to groom Ridhi himself.