There are athletes in the Indian Olympic contingent who came from humble origins. They have seen several hardships and their families have sacrificed a lot to put them on the path to success. Against the odds (and often, against the rules), these athletes have excelled in sports they’re passionate about and inspired others to do the same.
That’s why we’re excited to look back at their achievements and spotlight some of the stories which haven’t made as many headlines as Saina or Sania, but are remarkable no less.
As Pierre de Coubertin, the father of the modern Olympic Games, said, "The important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part. The essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well."
They have found a place in the sun despite all odds being stacked against them. Here’s a look at some other inspirations in the Indian Olympic contingent who rose from humble beginnings:
1. OP Jaisha
There is no denying that it might be a monumental year for Indian women in sports. OP Jaisha is one woman who struggled just to make it onto the field.
Born in North Kerala's Wayanad district, her father met with an accident when she was just five. It was up to her depression-ridden mother to look after all three daughters.
Their only source of income, three cows died after her father's accident which led to the family starve for days at times. Even, she used to eat mud to survive on a few occasions.
From walking miles and selling milk to Rio Olympics qualification is indeed huge. At first, she finished with a bronze in the 1500m at the Asian Games and followed it up by breaking the 19-year old women's marathon record at the Mumbai Marathon.
At the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, she finished 18th and booked an August date in Rio.
2. Dutee Chand
India's international competitive sprinter Dutee Chand was born to a poor weaver couple in Odisha. It was tough for her father to support a family of nine which included six daughters, but he always asked his daughter to give her best shot in athletics.
When Dutee was 18, she was barred from competing against female athletes by AFI and IAAF due to the “hyperandrogenism” she suffers from, which causes her body to produce high levels of testosterone.
Instead of accepting the ruling, she brought this matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, which ruled in her favour. Thanks to the landmark ruling, she again started running again and first broke the 16-year-old national record of 11.38 seconds in the 2016 Federation Cup.
Although she missed the Olympic qualification mark by 0.01 second, later she clocked 11.30 seconds in Almaty, Kazakhstan and beat the Rio Olympics qualification mark of 11.32 seconds.
The 20-year-old has well and truly arrived on the Indian athletics scene.
3. Manpreet Kaur
For Manpreet Kaur, participation in shot put has proved to be life-changing for her. She is just like us but a little different. And what makes her different is her life story - a tale of struggle and determination to support her career.
The 25-year-old from Punjab is the eldest of three children in a family of five. Very early in her life, Manpreet realised how unfair life could be.
Her father who was a farmer passed away when she was just 13. Her mother, the sole breadwinner was paralysed in 2006. The hardships of life didn't douse her confidence one bit. She found the support through her brothers who encouraged the shotputter to pursue this sport.
Also Read: From losing her father at age 13 to qualifying for The Olympics- the story of Manpreet Kaur
Manpreet broke an 18-year-old national record and qualified for the Rio Olympics with a throw of 17.96 m at the National Open Athletics Championships.
She is a true fighter and is pushing hard every day to make the nation proud. A lot of hopes are riding on this talented athlete, and she can be easily considered as India’s dark horse in the Olympics.
4. Khushbir Kaur
The fastest walking Indian girl belonged to one of the most impoverished of villages in Punjab and was unaware about the sport till she got into it. She was like any other girl till her father passed away owning to a cardiac arrest.
Her mother was forced to take up low-status jobs at houses of other people to keep the family running. But Khushbir decided she would not give up and her determination finally paid off when she won the 2008 Junior Nationals without even wearing shoes.
In 2014, she became the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games medal in the 20km race walking event in Incheon. For her, it was a battle won.
She qualified for the Rio Olympics after a creditable performance in the IAAF Race Walking Challenge at Rio Maior in Portugal.
5. Deepika Kumari
Deepika Kumari is one of India's brightest medal prospects in Rio Olympics 2016. But her journey has not come easy.
The archer was born to a poor family in Ranchi, Jharkhand. She used to practice with bow and arrow made of bamboo as her father, an autorickshaw driver was unable to support her career due to poverty.
It was only when she joined the Tata Archery Academy in 2006 that her professional career began. In 2012, Deepika went on to become World No. 1 in women's recurve individual event.
Recently, she shot 686 in the 72-arrow ranking to equal the feat of London Olympics gold-medallist Ki Bo Bae of Korea.
