Kalahandi: Anita Nayak, a 15-year-old girl hailing from Kalahandi district, has become a national-level Cycle Polo player.
Hailing from a poor family—her father is a rickshaw puller and mother is a daily wage labourer—this gritty teen did not let poverty deter her from fulfilling her dreams.
Anita’s father Bharat Nayak had left his native village of Majhen Padar in Dharmagada block in Odisha and moved to Bhilai in search of work. He started to work as a rickshaw puller there. His children are studying there in schools.
Anita is good in studies and is also involved in several extra-curricular activities.
She had represented Chhattisgarh as a captain of sub-junior group.
In 2013-14, she had received gold medal and Rs 10,000 at the 12th Sub-Junior Girls’ National Cycle Polo Championship in Bokaro.
She had also received gold medals and cash prizes three times in a row at the 13th, 14th and 15th Junior Girls’ National Cycle Polo Championship.
In 2018-19, Anita received the Chief Minister Trophy from Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.
She has also been selected to receive the Federation of Cycle Polo Association Of India Award.
Anita’s feats have also won applauds from her native Kalahandi district, with locals demanding that the Odisha government must help to resettle her and her family in the state.
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