Annu Rani, 31, a native of Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut district, who scripted history by clinching India’s first-ever gold medal in women’s javelin throw at the Asian Games in 2023, did not just target the bull’s eye. Her aim was also to bring ‘dignity’ to the girls of her village, along with the freedom to wear T-shirt and track-pants. This motivation, perhaps, helped her register a ‘golden’ throw of 62.92 m in Hangzhou.
In a short interview with News18, Rani, who was felicitated by the Uttar Pradesh government as she returned to her hometown on Saturday, recounted her journey to becoming the ‘golden girl’.
For Rani, the grand welcome by the people of Bahadurpur, one of the remote villages of Meerut where Rani was born and brought up, was unbelievable. “This was the second best moment of my life. I am sure my efforts will help change people’s perception towards girls in my village and will give them the freedom to wear T-shirts and track pants, which so far has been a dream for the girls of Bahadurpur," said Rani, whose father Amarpal is a farmer.
I still remember how I used to borrow T-shirts, track pants and a javelin from my fellow players and play wearing their oversized shoes
WEARING SPORTSWEAR TO BUYING IT: THE HURDLES
Rani said she still remembered the day her father beat her up for picking up javelin in her school for the first time. “I had seen one of my seniors practising javelin. Out of curiosity, I thought of trying my hand at it. Someone told my father and I got a scolding," recollects Rani.
But that didn’t stop Rani. She practised javelin for a year, without telling her parents. “My father learned about it later, but said he won’t allow me to pursue it as the player has to be dressed in sportswear, which is a taboo in the village," she said.
She said her coach and guru Swami Vivekanand goaded her parents to allow her to pursue the sport. Rani’s extreme dedication changed her father’s perception, turning him into her biggest supporter.
“Buying shoes, T-shirts, track pants and a javelin was another challenge, as we are not financially sound. We are five siblings and my father is the sole breadwinner of the family. Managing family expenses was tough. I still remember how I used to borrow T-shirts, track pants and a javelin from my fellow players and play wearing their oversized shoes," she said.
As Amarpal was felicitated at the event, he said rather than getting daughters married at the early age of 18 or 20, people should give them a free hand and not discriminate between boys and girls. “Rani struggled for around 20 years. She used to wake up at 3 am everyday for practice in the sugarcane fields using bamboo sticks and sugarcane. Her hard work has paid off," he said.
In her message to the villagers, Rani said: “Wearing T-shirts or track pants doesn’t matter, just support girls to pursue their dreams. Please don’t look at them as a burden, instead let them to live their life and fulfill their dreams."
Rani struggled for around 20 years. She used to wake up at 3 am everyday for practice in the sugarcane fields using bamboo sticks and sugarcane. Her hard work has paid off, says her father
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