From barefoot run to coaching glory: Neha’s inspiring journey
Jalandhar: Neha has now taken on a new role as Khelo India coach
Jalandhar: At just 23, Neha’s journey from hardships to hope stands as a reminder of what determination and the right guidance can achieve. A 400m hurdler and daughter of a factory foreman, Neha has now taken on a new role, as a Khelo India coach at the very sports college where her own sporting journey began.
Neha officially joined as a coach on January 20, marking a significant milestone in her life. Just months earlier, in November 2025, she added another feather to her cap by winning a silver medal in the 400m relay at the Khelo India Games.
“When she started, Neha didn’t even have proper shoes and would run barefoot,” recalls Sharandeep Kaur, her physical education teacher at Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Adarsh Nagar, who first spotted her talent. “Seeing her reach here is a feeling that cannot be described. What more could I ask for?”
It was Sharandeep Kaur, who took Neha to the sports college, where she was introduced to Sunil Kamboj, an athletics coach with the Sports Department. That meeting proved life-changing. For the past seven years, Neha has trained under Kamboj’s guidance, a mentorship she says she can never repay.
“I have seen penury. Those memories still come back to me,” Neha told The Tribune. “But main bahut agge vadh chuki haan life vich. Now, I am only thankful.”
Coming from a humble background, Neha has witnessed her family’s struggles up close. Her mother earlier worked as a domestic help and now stitches footballs at a factory. Despite the challenges, Neha says her parents’ pride in her achievements is her greatest reward.
“My parents are proud of me and I am the happiest now,” she said. “Coming from a humble background, where I saw several financial challenges, I have reached here. I have started earning now.”
Coach Kamboj believes Neha’s journey is far from over. “She has great potential and has reached this stage purely through hard work,” he said. “I couldn’t be more proud of her achievements.”
From running barefoot to mentoring the next generation of athletes, Neha’s story is not just about medals or jobs, it is about the power of believing in oneself, even when the odds are stacked high.
