Young Indian hockey forward Annu scored nine goals as India went on to win the junior women's Asia Cup. But her parents could not watch their daughter at the tournament because they did not own a smartphone.
Annu even pulled off a rare double hat trick during the tournament but back home, her family, who worked hard to get her to that stage, was completely oblivious to her achievements as the Asia Cup matches were not aired on TV but streamed on a website. Now, Annu is desperate to buy a new smartphone and gift it to her parents.
"I will always remember that my parents could not watch the matches - they did not have a smartphone on which they could have watched the games being streamed live," an emotional Annu told PTI Bhasha on her return from Japan's Kakamigahara, where she scored the opening goal in final against Korea.
"But the first thing that I would do now is to get them new phones so that they don't miss my matches in future," she added, making her priorities clear.
Fighting against the odds isn't new for India's sportspersons and the story of this youngster hailing from Roj Khera in Haryana's Jind district isn't any different. Father Raj Pal used to work in farmland and at times at brick kilns to supplement the family's meagre income. Mother has struggled with slip disc ailment and often the family would sleep on an empty stomach.
"My family has been through a lot of hardships. On some days, my father would work on farms and on other days, some days he would work in brick factories. My mother has struggled with a disc injury.
"There were so many nights when we went to bed without having any food. I remembered all the sacrifices that my parents made for us when I would be playing," Annu said.
Like national team seniors Rani Rampal and Savita Punia, Annu too has overcome obstacles to make it on the big stage. "I was always determined to do something - give a better life to my family and make my country proud," she said. Over the years, whenever she earned any cash prize, the money was mostly utilised for paying off the debts.
"Whenever I won rewards in cash, I would give that to my parents. We also had the pressure of paying off some big loans. After I made it to the state team, the money coming in from the Haryana government helped," said Annu.
Someone who started playing when she was a fourth-standard student, Annu credited her father for not paying heed to naysayers from a high region where girls taking up a professional sport is still a taboo despite so many world-class female athletes emerging and bringing laurels to the country.
"My father would take me to different places to play, which many would not approve. Now the entire village is celebrating and I am happy about it. It is also a victory for the trust that my father showed in me," Annu said.
The Hisar-based Sports Authority of India’s coach Azad Singh also played a key role in Annu's journey. "Azad sir supported me throughout, he understood my family’s condition and always helped me with everything I needed during training," she said.
While Annu's parents could not watch her play live, her brother, who has recently joined the Indian army, was fortunate enough to do so. She also credited senior team coach Janneke Schopman for giving her useful tips.
(India head coach) Janneke Schopman's experience helped a lot too. She made us understand in detail how to play against big teams."
