Local girl selected in national judo squad for world event

Ludhiana: A daughter of a city-based factory worker, Priya (19), has been selected in the Indian judo squad for the next World University Games, which will kick off in Napoleon city of Italy from July 3.
The World University Games is a prestigious event, as players hailing from more than 200 top universities of the globe showcase their talent here. A resident of Tibba Road, Priya has performed exceptionally well in the selection trials for 70kg judo event, recently held in Panjab University, defeating the nation’s six topmost judokas (among them two being international-level judokas) in different bouts.
Earlier, Priya, had won the gold medal in the All India Inter-University Championship by defeating judokas of 118 top universities of India at Panjab University, thereby getting an opportunity to perform in the selection trials of the World University Games.
Priya, who has been ill for the past six months, informed: “It’s a dream come true for me, as I worked very hard for the past six years for this moment. These games are no less than Olympic Games for me. In 2016, I left judo due to the poor financial condition of my family, because on those days, I did not have enough money to reach the sports stadium to attend practice sessions on a regular basis. But my judo coach and friends helped me financially, so I began my practice session once again, and got selected for the events.”
She added: “My family belongs to the weaker sections of society. I have faced several hardships to reach this stage in my life, because my father is severely ill, and my mother is a helper in a private hospital who can hardly manage the household expenses. Now, I have been looking for a bank loan to meet my travelling expenses for the World University Games, as I don’t have a single penny to purchase the air ticket.”
“I trained regularly for five to six hours, including physical training, as judo is a hardcore sport which needs regular training and proper diet. Although, my college (Ramgarhia Girls College and University) is giving all the required help in terms of providing proper scholarship in studies, along with issuing a free kit — bag, diet etc — I need urgent sponsorship, through which I can meet my travelling expenses,” she added.
Judo coach Parveen Thakur told TOI: “It is for the first time in the city that a local judoka has qualified for the World University Games after overcoming several hardships. The sports department has been proud of our player. The sports ministry will take every step to help Priya, as we all know she belongs to a poor family, and cannot bear her travelling expenses,” said the coach.
POOR FINANCIAL CONDITION
Priya’s father Ram Nivas is a tuberculosis patient who could not work on a regular basis. Due to this, her financial condition is very poor. She left sports in 2016 due to this reason, but her coach helped her bring back to the field, and made her dream come true. Father Ram Nivas and mother Shela Devi of Priya were on cloud nine after hearing the news that her daughter would represent the Indian judo squad in the World University Games.
Both said: “We had prayed to god that she should make India feel proud by winning a medal for our country on foreign soil, because she really worked hard to reach that platform, and hard work never goes in vain.”