- 2 days ago
Speaking at India Today's Woman Summit 2025, javelin thrower Nishi Kumari, archer Anshika Kumari, and rugby player Alpana Kumari shared their journeys toward sporting glory. The three athletes spoke about the unwavering support of their parents and highlighted their battles against the odds.
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00:00I'd like to take a brief moment to introduce my speakers. These are three girls from Bihar,
00:05very, very strong disruptors, rule breakers, and you're only waiting to hear their story,
00:12trust me, because I was as enamored when I started finding out more about them.
00:19So Nishi Kumari is a 20-year-old javelin thrower, and she is from Bihar. She's making waves in
00:24Indian athletics with a personal best of 46.9 meters. She clinched gold at Junior National
00:30Athletics Championship 2023. We have Alpana Kumari. She's 18 years old. She's a rugby player
00:37from Nalanda in Bihar. She captained the Bihar Under-18 girls rugby team and led them to the
00:42gold medal at the Kelo India Youth Games 2025. She's a resilient athlete who embodies the spirit
00:49of emerging women's rugby in rural India. And we also have with us Anshika Kumari. She's an
00:56archer. She's 22 years of age, again from Bihar. And she has played three World Cup stage
01:021, 2, and 3. Thank you so much.
01:08I was studying about three. And I think it is so, so amazing that you have come from Bihar,
01:15you have played javelin, rugby, archery. You know, firstly, rugby is a game that probably
01:24won't be played in the cities in India. And there were many people who had been waiting for you to
01:34stop. You are a girl. You want to play? You want to play? You want to play? What will you play?
01:38This is a sport of girls. But you have fought all those things. And today you are sitting here.
01:45Nishia, I want to start with you. How was your journey? How was your journey? How did you
01:50first think that I wanted to throw javelin? That is where I want to master that sport?
01:58Nishia, I want to start with you. We had asked students once in our school that
02:03the teachers of sports were the one that they said, yes, you start the javelin.
02:07Once you try and see how it is, then they said that just they told us and you did not
02:12that they wanted to start as soon as they wanted to start. I mean, I wanted to support for
02:15my brother's aunt and see how we can do it. We went on YouTube. We did not see
02:20videos on the ground on YouTube and saw how they try and how it happened, what the
02:23try how it happens, how can we handle the technique. So, to watch videos on YouTube and apply
02:30to the ground. There were not any coaches there to tell you. Those who wanted to watch
02:36YouTube, then they went to the ground. So, that started slowly and slowly, and then
02:42get the coaches on the way ahead.
02:46Anshika, what is your story?
02:49So, ma'am, I started my game at school. So, my school was archery. Archery is a not very popular game
02:57in every school. Because it requires individual equipment and all. And archery equipment is
03:03very expensive. So, I'm glad that my school was in school and I started doing it. It's a
03:09really lovely game. Archery is a bow and arrow game. So, it looks very fancy. So, I started
03:16playing it off and I thought it would look very good. So, I continue.
03:20Alpana, I was reading about you. And, as I said, rugby anyway is an unusual spot.
03:26Which doesn't play in India so much. You played in Bihar. It was also in a small town.
03:33In the village. In the village. And, there were many people who told you that you are a girl.
03:39How can you wear shorts? If you have a photo in the newspaper, it won't look good. You should
03:45opt for the girls. How did you fight with those things?
03:51When people were talking about me, I thought I was thinking I was thinking about it.
03:55People were saying that we cannot do anything. My bus is not a problem.
04:00When we went to ground, we were working on ground.
04:04People were saying, what will I do? This will not do anything. This is a girl.
04:08Where will I go to the shorts? Where will I go to the newspaper? This will not do anything.
04:13My father is like a new name. This is not going to do anything. So, people were saying that.
04:17They were very much commenting. The girls too. And the other people too.
04:21They were very much commenting. But, my parents would say that.
04:25Whatever you think about your mind. Whether you study or play.
04:29Whatever you think about it, do it.
04:32My mother and father is very much supporting. And the coach is very much supporting.
04:36Like our Bihar Secretary, Pankaj Jyoti Sir.
04:40And our Nitish Kumar is so supporting.
04:43We are very much supporting.
04:45We are very much supporting.
04:46We are very much supporting.
04:48Like our kids, we are very much supporting.
04:50We are very much supporting.
04:52Nishai, in your case, your parents were also very supportive.
04:54Your family was very supportive.
04:55And I am sure you will see that.
04:56All families will not be like that in Bihar.
04:58All families will not be like that in Bihar.
04:59So, how do you feel about your family?
05:00And what is your message about your family?
05:01And what is your message about your family?
05:02And what is your message about your family?
05:03And what do you want to give them a chance?
05:04What do you want to encourage them to encourage them?
05:07First of all, I thanks to my family, all members, like my brother, father and my mother.
05:12they supported them.
05:13Not much of the doubt, they did not have a chance to say anything.
05:15They did not say anything about their children.
05:16They have a chance to say anything about their family.
05:18First of all, I thank my family, all members, like my brother, father and my mother.
05:26They have supported us a lot, like they didn't know what they were talking about.
05:32We belong to the city of Bihar.
05:36They have a lot of difference between what their daughter is doing.
05:41Their daughter doesn't mean anything.
05:44So, today their daughter is doing sports on a good level.
05:48So, they are also very proud of the family.
05:51And we also think that our guardians have a very proud feel.
05:56And I would like to say that,
05:58all parents should support their children
06:02if they should support them in the field.
06:08Anshika, what was your game-changer in your life?
06:12When you thought that, can I go ahead? Can I not go ahead?
06:16Will I be able to do it?
06:18But that point where you told yourself that, no, I will do it.
06:21I will rise up from this.
06:23Ma'am, ups and downs to every phase.
06:27Like, if you go to studies or sports, it doesn't matter.
06:31So, there was no breaking point.
06:34The journey started when I lifted the archery for the first time.
06:39And I just thought that, I just want to do this.
06:42Like, I found what I really want to do.
06:44I really enjoy shooting.
06:46So, when I am shooting, when I am shooting line, I forget everything.
06:51Like, it's my target or me.
06:54Like, it's like that.
06:56And when in my life, there is a down phase,
06:59then my mother is my role model, actually.
07:02She broke all the stereotypes in her life,
07:05like, she is a fighter for me.
07:09So, I feel like her struggles and her journey,
07:11I feel like my struggles are just a small problem.
07:15So, they have grown up to me,
07:18like my children,
07:20like my perverish and all.
07:22I mean, I always have a backbone in my back.
07:25Like, if anything you do, I will see.
07:27That type of thing.
07:28So, when you are so supportive of your mother,
07:30I don't think that,
07:31I don't think that,
07:32you can feel like a problem in life.
07:37Very true.
07:38Alpana, how did your life come in a mode?
07:40It was a very bad accident.
07:42And you were recovering for a long time.
07:45It was a very difficult phase.
07:48How do you describe it?
07:50And how did you come out of it?
07:52Yes, ma'am.
07:53When I started,
07:54when we wanted to practice,
07:56there was also an accident.
07:58At that time,
07:59two or three times,
08:00one time,
08:01my collar wound broke.
08:02After a few days,
08:03two or three months,
08:05my collar wound broke.
08:07So, I thought,
08:08I can't do anything now.
08:10My collar wound broke.
08:11My collar wound broke.
08:12My accident also broke.
08:13Now, what will I do?
08:14People will move forward.
08:15And I will not do anything.
08:17There was a lot of tension in the room,
08:19that I will not do anything.
08:21Now, I will not go forward.
08:22Whatever my dream,
08:23I will not do anything.
08:24But,
08:25mother and father supported me,
08:26who supported me,
08:27who supported me,
08:28or did not do anything.
08:29When you chose to play,
08:31you have to play,
08:32When you chose to play,
08:33you do,
08:34you can do it.
08:35You can do it.
08:36You have to have to do it.
08:37You have to support it.
08:38You do it.
08:39Very nice.
08:40But when you chose this, you can do it. You can do it. You have a lot of strength.
08:46So, very much mommy and papa supported you.
08:49Everything will happen. We are with you.
08:52So, we have started talking about mommy and papa and coaches.
08:57Very nice.
08:59You have told me that the Bihar government has been very supportive of you.
09:05Maybe there were a lot of points and you are from humble backgrounds.
09:10Mommy and papa to buy a kit and invest, it was not possible for you.
09:15What kind of government has given you to that mode?
09:24We don't have so much money that we take a spike.
09:28For Javelin, we have a lot of equipment.
09:31Like our spike is approximately 15 to 20 thousand dollars.
09:36The Javelin is very expensive.
09:38And we cannot throw the javelin on hard surface.
09:41So, it will be broken again.
09:43Then, the Bihar government has personally given a spike.
09:49Then, a Javelin, which is above the lakhs.
09:52So, the Bihar government has given me the support of the Bihar government.
09:57They have given me the equipment.
09:59And then, to prove it to us,
10:02we have given us our performance in the national level.
10:04We have given us a medal.
10:06Then, this is the way for Bihar government.
10:09So, as I told you, the game is very expensive.
10:16In our archery, like, I mean,
10:18the Boh's price is about 3.5 lakhs.
10:21The price of an arrow is about 4 to 5 thousand dollars.
10:25So, it is very expensive.
10:27So, no one can afford any family.
10:29You have to go to any academy and practice.
10:32But, our state is so good.
10:35So, if you win a medal in the national level,
10:38it is like that we will all support.
10:40And, if you do not win,
10:42then, like,
10:43now, they are taking the raw kids.
10:46They are taking the talent to identify their kids.
10:49They are sponsoring their kids.
10:50They have a good playground, facilities.
10:52They are providing everything.
10:54So, I have given them a full bowl kit.
10:57And, now, I am playing internationally.
11:00So, I have a lot of foreign exposure,
11:01foreign training.
11:03So, I would like to thank DG Sir.
11:06He is very supportive.
11:08He is like,
11:09he is coming to my practice session.
11:10He is deeply, well-rootedly,
11:13he has told me what is necessary.
11:15I have never seen him like this.
11:18I have never seen him like this.
11:19I have never seen him like this.
11:20I have seen him like this.
11:21So, I am very impressed with him.
11:24He has been asking me to go to my practice session.
11:26He is asking me to the ground level.
11:27If I actually need something.
11:29So, I will also send foreign exposure,
11:31foreign training by my state, Bihar.
11:34I would be very thankful for him.
11:36They have given the scheme for these MCLC schemes.
11:39And, I have also made a scheme for the medal,
11:41not to the Winnie Pau scheme.
11:43So,
11:44there is no need to think about the players who have a job.
11:46You just play your game.
11:48and our state is with us.
11:51Wonderful, very nice.
11:53Alpana?
11:57First of all, we want to thank the Bihar government
12:00because we are giving us a lot of support.
12:03We are like Ashtead,
12:05and we have a game like rugby ball,
12:08and the ground for rugby.
12:10We are giving us so much support for Bihar government
12:13that we want to thank them very much.
12:16I think that we are giving us a lot of support.
12:19Today, our Bihar women are so much in sports.
12:25First of all, women were not so much in sports.
12:28They were saying that they don't play,
12:30they don't play, they don't get anything to play.
12:33But today, our Bihar government also has held
12:35that the medal, the medal, the medal, the medal, the medal,
12:37the medal, the medal, the medal.
12:38And the other women are so much in sports.
12:41Very nice, very nice.
12:44I think that you were very high for us.
12:46You got to meet with Neeraj Chopra.
12:47And they told you that Nishiya is very talented.
12:51Let's continue.
12:52What was that moment?
12:53Neeraj Chopra, the first time we were in Hyderabad.
12:57The Bihar government was sent to us to the Bihar government.
12:59Ravindran Sankaraj was sent to us to the workout.
13:03That means, practice and go there.
13:04We have no facility in Bihar.
13:05We have no facility in Bihar government.
13:06We have no facility in Bihar government.
13:07But the Bihar government is sent to us to the other states.
13:12You go there, go there, go there, go to the coaches.
13:15Then perform yourself.
13:17Then meet Neeraj Chopra from Hyderabad.
13:20Neeraj Chopra, that means,
13:22That means, we have to go to our side.
13:25We have to move forward.
13:26So, they said,
13:27Yes, you can do well in Javelin.
13:30You have to work hard.
13:32You have to keep your needs.
13:34You should not show anything.
13:35We should focus on Javelin.
13:37And it was very good.
13:40Wonderful.
13:41Wonderful.
13:42Anishka, what are your plans further?
13:44You are very young.
13:4618, 20 years old.
13:47You are so young.
13:48You are so focused.
13:50Some of the children,
13:52children,
13:53who are confused about what we have to do in our lives.
13:57You are so focused.
13:59What are your plans further, Anishka?
14:02I have participated in the World Cup.
14:04So, for sure, next year,
14:06I would like to do better in the next year.
14:08To be selected in the team,
14:09to represent India,
14:10to represent.
14:11It's a different feeling.
14:12It's like,
14:13your dream come true.
14:14And,
14:15you feel like,
14:16yes,
14:17you've got a platform
14:18where you can feel a lot of people.
14:21Your country,
14:22your parents,
14:23your coaches.
14:25Like,
14:26you have a whole team.
14:29Like,
14:30SAI,
14:31Sports Authority of India,
14:32Khello India,
14:33my sponsors,
14:34OGQ.
14:35So,
14:36you all ready to go and perform
14:38and give your best there.
14:39So,
14:40next year,
14:41Asian Games are there.
14:42I hope,
14:43we will practice for that.
14:45Because,
14:46our work is just to practice,
14:47give your 100%
14:49and give your best there.
14:50The rest is,
14:51like,
14:52no one knows.
14:53It's a surprise for us too.
14:54So,
14:55we can just give our best.
14:56That's it.
14:57Alpana,
14:58you have the Olympics.
14:59What is your plan?
15:01My dream is that I will play the Olympics
15:04and win the Olympics.
15:06And how are you ready for that?
15:09For that,
15:10I will practice two or three times
15:12in the morning,
15:13but now,
15:14we have a under-20 camp in Kolkata.
15:16which is going to be a under-20 camp in Bihar,
15:18which is going to be 9-10 August.
15:20So,
15:21now,
15:22my focus is that I will have a selection of my under-20
15:25so that we can present India to India
15:27and give a medal.
15:28Wonderful.
15:29Wonderful.
15:30Nishra,
15:31what is your plan?
15:33My next plan,
15:34next year,
15:35Asian Games are going to be able to jump and practice
15:39and perform there.
15:41We need to have a selection for that.
15:43So,
15:44we need to do a lot of work in the future.
15:47Anishra,
15:48I would like to know from you,
15:49and in fact,
15:50I would like to know from you,
15:51those who do not live in Bihar.
15:54In other countries,
15:56there is a perception of Bihar,
15:58how safe for girls,
16:02how progressive is it?
16:04What kind of education and other fields
16:08that girls are growing?
16:10This is a prime example.
16:13What kind of things are you seeing?
16:20So,
16:21ma'am,
16:22it's like a totally different place.
16:24Okay.
16:25So,
16:26the first thing,
16:27the people's thoughts,
16:28obviously,
16:29there will be such things.
16:31But,
16:32all of a sudden,
16:33people,
16:34I mean,
16:35there are a lot of people educated,
16:37there are a lot of things,
16:39there are a lot of things,
16:40there are a lot of changes,
16:41over a period of time.
16:42So,
16:43I guess,
16:44Bihar is a totally new place.
16:46It's a very,
16:47like,
16:48clean,
16:49with people,
16:50and local,
16:51and,
16:52with a lot of areas.
16:53There have been a lot of development,
16:54too.
16:55If you speak about sports infrastructure,
16:57or,
16:58in any kind of thing,
16:59like,
17:00in education,
17:01in a lot of things,
17:02In the study,
17:03Bihar was quite good,
17:04but now,
17:05in sports,
17:06it has been a lot of development,
17:07Like, every facility is there, there is infrastructure, facilities, support,
17:12there is no need for anything.
17:14So, now we can say that people can start the sports game,
17:19and they are doing it.
17:21Like the schemes have been made,
17:23so now many people are very interested in going to go to sports.
17:27And like, parents can also close their eyes and send their children,
17:30saying, yes, I know that if they go to sports,
17:32then I know that their career is secure.
17:34Because in sports, there is a lot of growth in sports.
17:37Alpana, what do you see?
17:41First of all, Bihar was not so much in sports.
17:44First of all, people saw the shots,
17:47they said that they are wearing the shots,
17:49they are playing the shots,
17:51they are acting like a country,
17:53they are acting like this.
17:55But now in Bihar,
17:57it has been very developed.
17:59It means that now,
18:01a lot of people have changed,
18:03and now they think,
18:04and they say to their children,
18:07they are giving a lot of weight,
18:08they are giving a lot of weight,
18:11and you can do it.
18:13And, if you see that people have so many facilities,
18:17and in some places,
18:19there is a lot of people have opened up,
18:21and now they have changed.
18:22Alpana, while watching Alpana, 20 girls started playing rugby in their village.
18:29She is such an inspiration to all the girls in her village.
18:32So Nishia, what is your message today,
18:35who all girls are watching you from different countries,
18:39who are probably thinking we can do or not?
18:44What is the way to go after your dream?
18:47First of all, I have to try and start.
18:51Then, we will be able to do it for ourselves.
18:56We need to make a path,
18:58then we need to make ourselves,
18:59we need to make ourselves,
19:00we need to help ourselves.
19:01First, we need to do it for ourselves.
19:02Then, there will be a lot of people behind you,
19:04who will be able to give you a boost.
19:06Positive people.
19:10I would like to say that
19:12we are watching great players,
19:14we are inspired,
19:15and we get to see good things.
19:18But, when you are in the platform and in the game,
19:22you get to feel and experience.
19:24But,
19:25then we think,
19:26what is happening?
19:27Everything is wrong,
19:28nothing is good,
19:29how is it?
19:30And then,
19:31we see everything on the screen,
19:32everything is good,
19:33good, good, good,
19:34achieve.
19:35So, that is not happening.
19:36We are going through the face,
19:37they have also gone through the face.
19:39They have also felt that down face,
19:42they have also felt that,
19:43they have also felt that,
19:44I don't want to do it,
19:45I will just leave it,
19:46I will not be able to do it.
19:47But,
19:48that is just a temporary feeling.
19:49After all,
19:50you will know what you have to do.
19:52And,
19:53you will feel that,
19:54I will give it a next try.
19:55So,
19:56just go for the try,
19:57and give your best.
19:58Aap teeno ki kehani,
20:01bohut,
20:02bohut inspiring hai.
20:03I want to thank you all,
20:04for coming today.
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