The proudly heard stories of many victorious women in sports were once a real hardship.

We are all famillar with the plight of a girl child born in a male dominated rural village of India. Recently in an interview, badminton player, Saina Nehwal told Surprised readers that her grandmother wanted a boy. How her grandmother did not come to see Saina for a whole month after she was born.

Then to be born in a socially backward background only compounds the challenges. Take for example, 28 years old long distant runner Preeja Sheedharan. Preeja lost her father when she was very young and it was a big struggle for all of them. Her brother Pradeep quit studies after eight standard and started working He worked as a carpenter. Her mother had to work as a domestic worker. She just stunned the world by winning a gold in the women's 10,000 metres event at the Asian Games. Her win makes for an inspiring story, from a humble beginning to the top.

Another motivating instance is that of Kavita Raut. Born in a tribal family, she attracted attention when she won the silver medal in a national school meet, in bare feet. She would run twenty kms to fetch water when the river in Savpada would dry up in the summer. Her coach, Vijender Singh, adamantly told her family that she had to put her lungs to better use than just haul water! Well, she did, and created history by winning the bronze at the Commonwealth Games that yearComing from places like Haryana known for foeticide and honour kiling where even getting a decent education can be achievement, there are women who chose to become wrestlers, discus throwers and badminton players. Which is why the stories of Mary Kom, Krishna Poonia and Sania are particularly inspiring

Whether it was ignoring village elders and even the Panchayat as they went for training, wearing shorts or cutting their hair short, which invariably invited shiggers from boys, they overcame traditional attitudes. They realised that the only way to give backto all those who jeered at them, because these people thought that the women were making a tomfoolery of sports, was by letting their actions do the talking. They realised that the only way to prove their detectors wrong was by winning. And win they did. And how!

Women athletes won 13 of India's 38 gold medals, and contributed s6 total gold, silver and bronze medals to the final tally of 101. It was the first time that women had won the majority of medals awarded to India at the Commonwealth Games.

These medals speaks volumes of our growing prowess as a sporting nation. Through their sheer guts, hard work and determination these women are redefining Indian spots.

May their tribe increase!

Credit of this article goes fully to my childhood companion...My diary.