5 Incredible Sportspersons Whose Journey To Success Is Truly Inspiring
Often, we’re so impressed by the glory of a win, that we forget the years and years of struggle and hard work that went into that moment. India has many sportspersons who have made the country proud and have managed to achieve unbelievable feats. However, there are so many of them who’ve come from humble backgrounds and had to fight their way through.
Here are 5 incredible athletes whose journey to success, though not easy, has been truly inspirational:
PT Usha
PT Usha had to overcome many hurdles before she could become the multiple medal-winning champion she is today. Born into a poor household in a village in Kerala, PT Usha’s father had a small clothing store. Despite their poverty, at the age of nine, her natural talent was discovered. However, she went through numerous health problems. But that didn’t stop him from becoming the ‘Queen of track and field’. Today, she’s one of India’s greatest athletes.
Vijender Singh
The first Indian boxer to win an Olympic medal in 2008, Vijender Singh’s journey has been nothing short of inspiring. His father was a bus driver with the Haryana Roadways and worked extra shifts just to be able to pay for his education. Vijender was determined to stand on his own feet. With help from his brother, a former boxer himself, Vijender trained in boxing and quickly grew from strength to strength. He won the Padma Shri award in 2010 for his professional success.
Ravindra Jadeja
One of India’s leading all-rounders today, Ravindra Jadeja saw loss and pain at a very young age. His father was a watchman at a shopping complex and hoped for his son to join the army someday. But Jadeja loved cricket. Unfortunately, Jadeja lost his mother when he was just 17 in an accident. He was so devastated that he decided to quit everything that he loved — this included cricket. However, his mother’s wish was to see him don the national colours. So with grit and determination, he made it to the Indian Cricket Team and has excelled on the field.
Khushbir Kaur
Hailing from a small town near Jalandhar, Khushbir Kaur is the first Indian woman to win an Asian medal in race walking. Khushbir lost her father when she was just 6, and was raised by her mother single-handedly. She constantly encouraged her daughter to take up sports professionally and also sacrificed a lot for her success. All of their hard work paid off when she won the 2008 Junior Nationals, despite not being able to afford shoes. Khushbir Kaur’s story is truly inspirational.
Lovlina Borgohain
Daughter of a tea garden worker, Lovlina couldn’t afford to buy a boxing kit to compete in tournaments or travel for competitions when she was younger. She would sleep beside the toilet in the train compartment and borrow kits from competitors once they were done with their rounds. She got her first pair of gloves in 2013 and despite very little early formal training, she was selected at the sub-junior level state camp. Today, everyone knows Lovlina’s name — she made the country proud by winning a bronze medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics in the women’s welterweight event.
