MANALI: For most of her lifestyles, Kavita Thakur, a member of the Indian girls's kabaddi staff, lived in a cramped dhaba at her village Jagatsukh, 6km from Manali, Himachal Pradesh.
The 24-year-old, who helped India win gold on the 2014 Asiad, spent her early life and teen years washing utensils and sweeping floors on the dhaba, which is run through her parents. Father Prithvi Singh and mom Krishna Devi still promote tea and snacks on the dhaba, whilst elder sister Kalpana offers them a serving to hand.
"Even I used to work with my parents at the dhaba. I washed utensils, swept floors and did several other chores," Kavita tells TOI.
"My childhood and teenage years were very difficult. In winter, we slept in the back of our shop on the floor. It was unbearable since the floor felt like ice. Back then we didn't have money to buy mattresses. There were days when we didn't make any money and we all went hungry," she adds.
'Took up kabaddi because it was once now not pricey'
The gold medal on the 2014 Asiad shot her into limelight and the state executive additionally pitched in with some monetary assistance. Kavita and her family - parents, elder sister and more youthful brother Ashok Singh - have now moved to a rented lodging close to Manali town. "It was the happiest moment of my life when I could give my parents a proper house to live in," says Kavita. "My younger brother can now get good education."
"It is Kavita's hard work and determination that has given us a roof over our heads. Some years ago, we couldn't even think of living anywhere else other than our dhaba. We wish she brings more laurels for the country," says mom Krishna Devi.
Kavita started enjoying kabaddi at her college in 2007. "I took up kabaddi because it wasn't a costly sport," she says. "In fact, my elder sister was a better kabaddi player than me, but she had to give up her dream of playing the sport at the highest level in order to help my parents at the dhaba."
After setting up some constant performances on the national level, Kavita joined the Sports Authority of India in Dharamshala in 2009. "At SAI, I concentrated on my game and gave my best. Soon, I was selected in the national team. My sister and parents always supported me. They wanted me to follow my passion. I would have never played for the Indian team without their unflinching support."
"Subsequently, government support came in and that helped me to concentrate on my game and not worry about where the next meal was coming from," she adds.
In 2011, Kavita needed to take a ruin from the sport for 6 months after she was once recognized with a digestive device ailment. "There was a massive breakdown in my digestive system. I was hospitalised for quite some time, and I was worried that I would never be able to return and play the sport again," Kavita recollects.
But she made a roaring comeback the next 12 months, serving to India win gold on the 2012 Asian Kabaddi Championship. Kavita is a defender within the nine-member girls's staff that will represent India on the 2018 Asiad. "In the last Asian Games, when we won the gold medal, I was an all-rounder. But, two years ago, our national coach told me to focus on one aspect of the game. And then I became a full-time defender," says the 24-year-old.
The 24-year-old, who helped India win gold on the 2014 Asiad, spent her early life and teen years washing utensils and sweeping floors on the dhaba, which is run through her parents. Father Prithvi Singh and mom Krishna Devi still promote tea and snacks on the dhaba, whilst elder sister Kalpana offers them a serving to hand.
"Even I used to work with my parents at the dhaba. I washed utensils, swept floors and did several other chores," Kavita tells TOI.
"My childhood and teenage years were very difficult. In winter, we slept in the back of our shop on the floor. It was unbearable since the floor felt like ice. Back then we didn't have money to buy mattresses. There were days when we didn't make any money and we all went hungry," she adds.
'Took up kabaddi because it was once now not pricey'
The gold medal on the 2014 Asiad shot her into limelight and the state executive additionally pitched in with some monetary assistance. Kavita and her family - parents, elder sister and more youthful brother Ashok Singh - have now moved to a rented lodging close to Manali town. "It was the happiest moment of my life when I could give my parents a proper house to live in," says Kavita. "My younger brother can now get good education."
"It is Kavita's hard work and determination that has given us a roof over our heads. Some years ago, we couldn't even think of living anywhere else other than our dhaba. We wish she brings more laurels for the country," says mom Krishna Devi.
Kavita started enjoying kabaddi at her college in 2007. "I took up kabaddi because it wasn't a costly sport," she says. "In fact, my elder sister was a better kabaddi player than me, but she had to give up her dream of playing the sport at the highest level in order to help my parents at the dhaba."
After setting up some constant performances on the national level, Kavita joined the Sports Authority of India in Dharamshala in 2009. "At SAI, I concentrated on my game and gave my best. Soon, I was selected in the national team. My sister and parents always supported me. They wanted me to follow my passion. I would have never played for the Indian team without their unflinching support."
"Subsequently, government support came in and that helped me to concentrate on my game and not worry about where the next meal was coming from," she adds.
In 2011, Kavita needed to take a ruin from the sport for 6 months after she was once recognized with a digestive device ailment. "There was a massive breakdown in my digestive system. I was hospitalised for quite some time, and I was worried that I would never be able to return and play the sport again," Kavita recollects.
But she made a roaring comeback the next 12 months, serving to India win gold on the 2012 Asian Kabaddi Championship. Kavita is a defender within the nine-member girls's staff that will represent India on the 2018 Asiad. "In the last Asian Games, when we won the gold medal, I was an all-rounder. But, two years ago, our national coach told me to focus on one aspect of the game. And then I became a full-time defender," says the 24-year-old.
From sweeping a dhaba floor to playing for gold at Asiad
![From sweeping a dhaba floor to playing for gold at Asiad]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
August 18, 2018
Rating:
