5 Indian athletes who have come from remote villages

Mahatma Gandhi once said India’s strength lies in its rural areas. The saying can be applied to almost every walk of life, but it is most applicable to sport in the country. With over 70% of the country’s population located in rural areas, it’s only natural for talent to seep through from there.Sure, the lack of infrastructure and financial resources makes it very difficult for athletes from these areas to make it amongst the crème de la crème. That being said, there are several sportspersons who have defied the odds to make it to the top.Here are five sportspersons who hail from the rural areas in India:

#1 Umesh Yadav (Cricket)

Yadav hails from Khaperkheda

The Indian national cricket team pacer grew up in Valani, a miner village near Khaperkheda in the Nagpur district of Maharashtra. Before becoming a professional cricketer, Yadav had unsuccessfully attempted to join the Army and Police.

While playing tennis ball cricket in Pandharkawda village in the Yavatmal district as a 20-year old, his friend received a call from the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) asking him to bowl the next day.

He didn’t have any shoes at that point, but now Yadav is one of the hottest properties in Indian cricket.

From Nagpur to New Zealand, it’s been quite a journey for the 27-year-old.

#2 Deepika Kumari (Archery)

Kumari is a former world number 1

The former world number one, Kumari hails from the Ratucheti village in Jharkhand. The 21-year old has won three consecutive silver medals at the World Championships and also secured two gold medals at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Her father was an auto rickshaw driver, and she used to practise archery with bamboo bows and arrows. She is now training at the Tata Archery Academy in Jamshedpur for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

#3 Vijay Kumar (Shooting)

Kumar won a silver medal at the 2012 Olympics

India’s Olympic silver medallist in 2012, Kumar belongs to a small village known as Hasrour, which only houses 60 families. It is located in the Hamirpur district in Himachal Pradesh. In addition to his Olympics heroics, he has won five gold medals and one silver across two Commonwealth Games.

The 29-year old serves as a Subedar Major in the Indian Army and is supported by the Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ).

#4 M C Mary Kom (Boxing)

M C Marykom is a six-time world champion

The name needs no introduction; Mary Kom is one of the finest athletes the country has ever produced. Her achievements list is endless – she’s a six-time World champion, four time Asian champion, Asian Games gold medallist and to top it all an Olympic bronze medallist.

A biopic was recently made on her highlighting her popularity in the public sphere.

But surprisingly, this world beater hails from the tiny Kangathei village in Manipur. Her story is not only inspirational, but is testament to the talent present in India’s rural areas.

#5 Sushil Kumar (Wrestling)

Kumar is India’s only back-to-back individual Olympic medallist

Another one of India’s Olympic heroes, Kumar became the first Indian to win back-to-back individual Olympic medals. He bettered his bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics by winning a silver at the 2012 London Games.

Kumar belongs to the Baprola village in Najafgarh, Delhi. Initially a pure akhada wrestler, he was picked up by coach Satpal Singh, and the rest is now history.

Apart from the Olympics medal, Kumar has won five Commonwealth Championships, one World Championship, one Asian Championship and two Commonwealth Games.

The 31-year old has to be considered the finest wrestler this country has ever produced. From Najafgarh to London, all Indians would be hoping Kumar can go one better and win the gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.