In the ongoing Khelo India Youth Games in Panchkula (Haryana), medalist K. Rajita (400m gold), S. The Andhra trio of Pallavi (64kg weightlifting gold), and M. Sirisha (400m bronze) have faced immense hardship and financial constraints to make it this far.
Belonging to the Koya tribe, Rajita lost her father at an early age and her mother Bhadramma, a labourer, had to look after five children in Ramachandrapuram village in East Godavari (AP). “It was a daily fight, to survive. But my mother never gave up like a true warrior,” said Rajita.
First, it was Andhra Pradesh Sports Authority coaches Vamsi Sai Kiran and Krishna Mohan who saw the spark in Rajita and later, SAI athletics coach N. Ramesh refined her skills in Hyderabad, where she was training at her own expense.
18-year-old Sirisha from Mandrada village in Srikakulam is another shining example of an athlete’s triumph over adversity. His father Krishnam Naidu, a labourer, met with a fatal accident in 2019 and since then it is his mother Gauri, also a labourer, who is taking care of the family.
“Despite the sudden passing of my father, who encouraged me to take up athletics when I was 14, my mother insisted that I continue my career as an athlete. For a long time, two meals were a thing for us. It was luxury.This is my first medal in Khelo India Games.
For his part, Ramesh said the main challenge was sustainability.
“Rajitha has the potential to be included in the 4x400m Indian team as she is a great learner and brilliant at race decisions. Uninterrupted training and a job to support her family can see her go to places,” said Ramesh Hindu,
“Sirisha is one of those athletes who will fight for the spot irrespective of the level of competition,” Ramesh said.
On Pallavi, Badetti Venkatramaiah, vice-president of the Weightlifting Federation of India from Eluru, said that he had every quality to become a world champion. “Hopefully he gets the right kind of support at the right time,” he said.