5 Forgotten Sports Heroes of India: Talents That Deserve Recognition
There are several talented sports persons that brought back many medals to India. Yet many of them have perished away, far from the limelight, with no recognition, accolades or credit at all.
Asha Roy: India’s Fastest Runner Who Was Forgotten by the Nation" Asha Roy, the fastest Indian runner, set a record in 2011 at the National Open Athletics Championship. Hailing from a poor village in West Bengal, she overcame all odds to reach the top. Yet, despite her achievements, she struggles for basic necessities and remains unknown to most Indians. Without support or proper training, India's sprinting legend remains overlooked.
Kamal Kumar Valmiki: From Gold Medals to Garbage Collector" Kamal Kumar Valmiki, a three-time State Gold medalist in boxing, now collects garbage to support his family. Despite his athletic achievements, lack of funds and opportunity forced him to abandon his dream of coaching. Today, his medals remain forgotten, while the trash he picks up sustains his four children.
"Rashmita Patra: From International Football to Selling Betelnut Paan" Rashmita Patra, an international football player who represented India in Malaysia, Bahrain, and Bangladesh, now sells betelnut paan in her village. Forced to quit football due to poverty, she married a fisherman and now runs a shop to support her child, far from the game that once defined her.
"Nisha Rani Dutta: Archery Champ Who Sold Her Bow After Tragedy" Nisha Rani Dutta, an archery champion who represented India in Bangkok and Taiwan, was forced to sell her prized bow worth ₹4 lakh for ₹50,000 after her house collapsed in a flood. With no support, she was left to quit the sport that once earned her medals for India.
"Murlikant Petkar: India's First Paralympic Gold Medalist Forgotten" Murlikant Petkar, India’s first Paralympic gold medalist, won gold in swimming, javelin, and precision javelin throw at the 1972 Paralympics in Germany. A former boxer, he turned to multiple sports after sustaining disabilities in the 1965 India-Pakistan war. Despite his remarkable achievements, Petkar remains largely unrecognized, even by the Paralympics Committee.