Winners never quit

After hours of intense training at the PAP wrestling mat in Jalandhar, 33-year-old Preeti, now a Constable, takes a well-earned break. She opens her bag, and a smile spreads across her face as she looks at the fruit inside.

“It’s funny,” she says with a chuckle, “whenever I see fruits, I remember the days when my family couldn’t even afford a single banana.” The smile soon fades, as the painful memories of her challenging past resurface.

Preeti, a decorated wrestler who clinched a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in South Africa, has come a long way from the struggles of her childhood. Her rise to success is a testament to her resilience and determination, overcoming obstacles that seemed insurmountable.

Reflecting on her past, Preeti recalls, “There were times we didn’t even have milk for tea, let alone food for me,” referring to the financial hardships her family faced. Her father, a rickshaw puller, could barely make ends meet, let alone support her dreams of becoming a wrestler. When Preeti first took an interest in wrestling, her family was unsupportive. “I was one of four siblings, and my parents thought wrestling wouldn’t lead anywhere. Plus, I needed proper nutrition that we couldn’t afford,” she shares. In fact, when she was in Class X, her parents forbade her from going to school or practicing sports. For two months, she stayed confined at home, with no way to pursue her passion. It was only after her coach intervened and convinced her family to allow her to continue that Preeti was able to pursue her dreams. “I’ll always be grateful to him,” she says.

Even when her family showed indifference, Preeti faced taunts from relatives who believed a girl should either marry or learn to cook and stitch, not wrestle. “They couldn’t understand why I wanted to be in sports,” she adds. Undeterred by her family’s lack of support and societal expectations, Preeti began competing in local dangals (wrestling matches) where she earned a modest income, which she then spent on her nutrition and training.

Preeti’s story is one of unwavering perseverance. From fighting for basic necessities to becoming a national-level wrestler, she has proved that with dedication, anything is possible. Today, she balances her career as a constable with her continued training, preparing for the Senior National Games with an undying passion for the sport.