A young woman in Rajnandgaon used to sell milk door-to-door on her bicycle. At the same time her parents used to work as domestic helps in people's houses. From there, this girl will now be representing the Indian women's hockey team at the Rio Olympics -- this is the story of Renuka Yadav, who was named in the 16-member squad on Tuesday.
Renuka has been playing in the Indian women's hockey team for quite some time now as a midfielder. In the meantime, she also became the first woman Olympian from the state of Chattisgarh.
"It was not an easy journey. I belong to a lower middle-class family. I used to sell milk while my parents did household work like dusting and cleaning in others home to earn a livelihood," Yadav was quoted as saying by TOI.
"This is a golden moment of my life. We have got the opportunity to be at the Olympics after a long gap of 36 years. I am happy to be the first ever woman Olympian of Chhattisgarh."
"I have been playing hockey since childhood. Bushan Sao, my first mentor, encouraged me to take to the game. "My journey began there and today I am here in Indian team for Rio."
Renuka Yadav's coach Sao said that it is because of her hard work and determination that she has been able to reach this height. He also said that Renuka started playing hockey at the age of 7 and ever since then she has focused on how to better her game and excel in what she has been doing.
Renuka is also a ticket examiner with the Central Railway in Mumbai.
