Rohtak girls making India proud

Sunit Dhawan

Be it boxing, wrestling, cricket, shooting or badminton, Rohtak girls have left no stone unturned in bringing laurels to the state and country. Some of them have performed exceedingly well despite facing extremely trying circumstances.

For instance, Manju Rani of Rithal village in Rohtak district, who won a silver medal at the World Women’s Boxing Championship, organised in Russia recently, comes from a humble background. She lost her father at a young age and started training for boxing under coach Sahab Singh Narwal at her village.

“Initially, she had no gloves, no shoes and used to practise boxing with a punching bag hung from a tree at her coach’s agricultural land near a pond in the village,” reveals Manju’s mother Ishwanti. As of now, Manju aims to represent India in the upcoming Asian Games and Olympics and win medals at these esteemed sporting events. She has already become a role-model for the other girls at her village.

Young Indian cricketer Shafali Verma, daughter of Rohtak-based jeweller Sanjeev Verma, recently shot to fame, as she broke the 30-year-old record of her idol Sachin Tendulkar of being the youngest Indian to score a half-century in international cricket.

Tendulkar was 16 years and 214 days old when he scored his maiden half-century as he made 59 runs versus Pakistan in a test match at Faisalabad in 1989. Shafali shattered Tendulkar’s record by scoring 73 runs off 49 balls at the age of 15 years and 285 days in a T-20 match against the West Indies played at St Lucia, recently. Sanjeev recalls that his daughter Shafali had a boy-like haircut to be able to play cricket, as girls playing such sports were looked down upon in their community. 

Pooja Gahlot, who has been undergoing training for wrestling under coach Mandeep at Chhotu Ram Stadium in Rohtak, did the country proud, as she won a silver medal in 53-kg Under-23 category at World Championship organised in Hungary, recently. Pooja also won a gold medal in the National Championship organised at Shirdi in Maharashtra this year.

Rohtak-based shooter Kajal Saini also won two medals – a gold and a bronze – in team events at the Asian Shooting Championship held in Doha, Qatar. Kajal’s coach Manoj Kumar said he hoped that she would continue to perform well in the upcoming international events. 

Rohtak girl Unnati (12), daughter of Dr Upkar Hooda, also brought laurels to the state, as she won a gold medal in the All-India National Sub-Junior (U-13) Girls’ Championship held at Bhagalpur in Bihar earlier this month.

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Pooja Gahlot (22)

• Daughter of Vijender Singh, school lab assistant

Medals won

• Silver in 53-kg Under-23 category at World Championship, Hungary
• Gold in 53-kg Under-23 category at National Championship, Shirdi (Maharashtra)
• Gold medal in 48-kg category at Junior National Wrestling Championship, Ranchi (Jharkhand)
• Silver in 49-kg category at Girls’ Sub-Junior (cadet) National Wrestling Championship, Srinagar (J&K)
• Bronze in 53-kg category at All-India Inter-University Wrestling Tournament, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra

It feels good when our hard work pays off and we get to represent our country. My family and coach Mandeep Kumar have supported and trained me for the toughest fights. — Pooja Gahlot

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Manju Rani (20)

• Daughter of Late Bhim Sen Sharma, BSF official

Medals won 

• Silver in World Women’s Boxing Championship, Russia
• Gold in National Women Boxing Championship
• Silver in Strandja Memorial Tournament (Europe)
• Bronze in Thailand Open and India Open boxing events

I owe my success to my mother and my coach Sahab Singh Narwal. My next target is to bring medals for my country in Asian and Olympic Games. — Manju Rani

 Initially, she had no gloves, no shoes and used to practise boxing with a punching bag hung from a tree at her coach's agricultural land near a pond in the village. — Ishwanti, Manju’s mother

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Shafali Verma (15)

• Daughter of Sanjeev Verma, a jeweller

Honours

• Member, Indian Women Cricket Team
• Youngest player to represent Indian Women Cricket Team
• Youngest Indian cricketer to score half-century in international cricket; broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record

My father has always been my pillar of strength. He stood by me when society discouraged us. I feel proud to be a part of the Indian Women Cricket Team and will do my best for the country. — Shafali Verma

My daughter Shafali used to get a boy-like haircut to be able to play, as girls playing such sports were looked down upon in our community.—  Sanjeev verma, Shafali’s father

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Kajal Saini (25)

• Daughter of  Vijay Saini, Government employee

Medals won

• Gold in prone-position team event at Asian Shooting Championship, Doha (Qatar)
• Bronze in rifle three-position team event at Asian Shooting Championship, Doha (Qatar)

I always believed in myself and got ample support from my  parents and coach. Representing my country in international sporting events is like a dream coming true.— Kajal Saini

I hope she will continue to perform well in the upcoming international events. — Manoj Kumar, Kajal's coach

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Unnati Hooda (12)

• Daughter of Dr Upkar Hooda, educationist

Medals won

• Gold medal in All-India National Sub-Junior (Under-13) Girls’ Championship, Bhagalpur (Bihar)
• Gold in All-India Under-13 Girls’ (singles) and under-13 Girls’ (doubles) Sub-Junior Ranking, Udupi
• Gold medal in All-India Under-13 Sub-Junior Ranking, Hyderabad

I love playing badminton. My father and mother always encouraged me to pursue the sport. It feels good to perform well at big tournaments. I want to represent my country some day. — Unnati Hooda

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