Khelo India is a great platform for us, says Haryana wrestler Anju

Pune, Jan. 13: Touted as the new kid on the block, Anju Kumari won India’s only bronze medal in 2017 at the Junior World Wrestling Championship in Finland.

Expectedly, coming into the competition at the Khelo India Youth Games 2019 at the Shri Chhatrapati Sports Complex here, Anju was the favourite and duly obliged in the girls Under-17 53kg category on Thursday.

The Haryana wrestler, trained by coach Jagdish Kaur has been raised by a single mother, from whom she has always got unstinting support and inspiration, and whom she wants to make proud with such victories.

“She has worked very hard to make my dreams possible and I just want to win and make her happy,” a smiling Anju says.

Anju took to wrestling quite late, while studying in Class Nine from her and says technique is one area she feels needs the most work “That (technique) is the key to making a sound wrestler and that is what I will be concentrating on most in the immediate future.”

The teenager is of the opinion that events like Khelo India will give athletes from all over India the sort of exposure and competition they need before graduating to bigger stages later in their career.

“My aim is to win gold medals at every event possible for India. For that the Khelo India Youth Games is a great platform and a big inspiration for athletes like me, not just to be able to represent the country but also to create a system that promotes health and fitness,” said Anju.

During the week, another one of the Haryana’s wrestling coaches, Vijender, said:

“The support from our government, the infrastructure and the exposure they get has created confidence in our girls. They are fearless and despite trailing, they fight till the end with a killer instinct. I feel that makes the difference.”