Gaya vegetable vendor's daughter prepares to be a national player

By Surya Pratap Singh

Gaya, Feb.9 : Many of us tend to easily give up in life when faced by difficult circumstances. But the daughter of a vegetable vendor in Gaya has demonstrated that it's always possible to rise with a never say die spirit.

Ninteen-year-old Jyoti Kumari has made her family and the State proud by earning several medals and trophies in various national and State-level Kabaddi tournaments.

Having played at different levels, Jyoti has amassed a several certificates, trophies, and medals. Till date she has participated in three nationals, a dozen State and several district-level tournaments. She has won scores of medals and trophies besides earning accolades for her brilliance in the game.

"I wanted to play Kabaddi and make the country proud of me. Moreover, my father is a vegetable vendor and I want that my family's condition should also improve and I could support them," said Jyoti.

Being the eldest daughter of her parents, Jyoti wishes to support her family and be a help to her father to ensure higher education to her younger siblings.

Jyoti's Kabbaddi coach Shyam Lal takes pride in her success and is confident that she would continue to scale new heights and one day join the national Kabaddi team.

"Jyoti is a very bright player and she is extremely hard working. She has the possibilities of moving even further and we are expecting that she would also represent the country in the international tournaments," said Shyamlal, coach of Bihar Kabaddi team.

Just a few years back Jyoti discontinued her studies after matriculation due to financial crunch faced by her poverty-stricken family. She opted to stay at home.

Later, encouraged by her aunt to take up Kabaddi as a profession, Jyoti started practicing it. Since then she has never looked back and continued to earn appreciation of everyone around.

"I was playing Kabaddi and Jyoti was sitting idle at home. I thought that she must do something as sitting idle was no solution to anything. Even people start speaking foul. I encouraged her to play Kabaddi. She is a good player and doing well in the field. Even her parents had no problems in her playing Kabaddi. Through this game she can earn name for herself and family and can also get a job and support her family," said Rajni, Jyoti's aunt and a Kabaddi player herself.

Despite being the daughter of a vegetable vendor, Jyoti never allowed inferiority complex to affect her determination to succeed.

"We feel good when we watch her playing. It was our wish that she should participate in sports and we have always encouraged her towards this. She is playing extremely well and bringing laurels for the country and the State as well as in the society. We are proud of her," said Umesh Prasad, father of Jyoti Kumari.

ANI