From a chawl in Pimpri-Chinchwad to making history in Delhi, Kho Kho captain Priyanka Ingle says World Cup win was ‘special’

“We had small uncertainty that we would win. Our squad was considered the strongest successful the World Cup and I americium gladsome we lived up to our apical billing done our superb performance,” Priyanka said, standing Nepal arsenic India’s toughest opponent.

Leading from the front, Priyanka besides enactment up a stellar show individually that saw her container the Player of the Tournament award. “I americium blessed I could lend my champion and guarantee that my squad emerged with flying colours,” she said.

The girl of a husbandman from Kaij taluka of Maharashtra’s Beed district, Priyanka’s Kho Kho travel began erstwhile she was successful Class 5 astatine Shri Sayajinath Maharaj Vidyalaya, Wadmukhwadi, successful Pimpri-Chinchwad.

When she said she wanted to articulation the schoolhouse Kho Kho team, her household was initially opposed to it. “They thought my studies would suffer. They wanted maine to go a doc similar 1 of my relatives…But later, arsenic I started doing good connected the field, they supported maine wholeheartedly and are inactive doing that,” Priyanka said.

Priyanka said she got funny successful Kho Kho successful school. “I utilized to ticker my schoolmates playing Kho Kho astatine the schoolhouse ground. It generated involvement successful maine and past I joined them,” (Express Photo)

Priyanka’s begetter Hanumant Ingle says they were acrophobic her studies would instrumentality a backseat. “She was ever bully successful studies. In Class 10, she received much than 80 per cent marks. She did good successful Class 12 and her graduation too… But she brilliantly managed her studies and her favourite sport. We are highly thrilled that she played for her state and made each of america arrogant by winning the World Cup,” helium added.

‘She ever looked similar she wanted to beryllium her mettle’: School coach

Priyanka said she got funny successful Kho Kho successful school. “I utilized to ticker my schoolmates playing Kho Kho astatine the schoolhouse ground. It generated involvement successful maine and past I joined them,” she said.

“Her parents wanted her to bash good successful academics. However, I met them a mates of times and convinced them astir their daughter’s quality and skill. I told them that 1 time their girl volition surely bring glory to their family. My words proved right,” Avinash Karvande, Priyanka’s manager from her schoolhouse days, said.

Karvande said of each the girls successful her school, Priyanka was “a natural”. “She had the velocity and the agility and ever looked assured successful immoderate situation. What I liked astir astir her was her determination to bash good connected the field. It seemed similar she ever wanted to beryllium her mettle and due to the fact that of this quality, she was picked for the territory team, the authorities squad and past represented Maharashtra,” helium added.

According to Karvande, adjacent during the players’ campy held successful December, the members of the Kho Kho Federation of India were unanimous that Priyanka was the perfect prime for captain. “There were 60 outstanding players from antithetic parts of the country. But the Federation zeroed successful connected Priyanka to pb the Indian team. She has not fto down the Federation and her country,” helium said.

‘Despite the likelihood we faced, we ever backed her’: Father

Priyanka’s parents Hanumant and Savita migrated from drought-hit Beed territory to Pimpri-Chinchwad successful 1998. They rented a one-room portion successful the Dighi area. Her begetter got a occupation arsenic a idiosyncratic successful a backstage firm. “We near Beed arsenic our workplace was yielding thing owed to the persistent drought successful the Marathwada portion and came to Pimpri-Chinchwad successful hunt of a livelihood. Initially, I utilized to get Rs 6,000 arsenic my monthly salary. Till immoderate 7-8 years ago, my wage was astir Rs 15,000. Through our savings, immoderate 7 years ago, we moved into a level and acceptable up our ain question and tours firm,” Hanumant recalled.

However, this did not halt the Ingles from backing their daughter. “After we realised her potential, we ne'er stopped her from pursuing her goals. We knew Priyanka would radiance connected the sports field. So, contempt the likelihood we faced, we continued to backmost her,” helium added.

Besides the World Cup winning moment, Priyanka, who represented India for the archetypal clip astatine the Asian Games successful Assam successful 2023 and Maharashtra connected 23 occasions, says 1 of the astir memorable moments successful her beingness was erstwhile she received the Outstanding Player Award successful the under-14 property group.

“Subsequently, I was honoured with the Rani Laxmibai Award successful 2021-22. When I was picked for the 4th International Asian Games, my joyousness knew nary bounds. I cannot hide that moment. The Maharashtra authorities has besides honoured maine with the Shiv Chhatrapati State Sports Award successful 2022-23,” she added.

“Apart from my parents, my manager Avinash Karvande has played an important portion successful my success,” Priyanka said.

The authorities authorities has offered a Class One station to Priyanka and her teammates. “After we won the World Cup, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar offered america Class One posts. The authorities has besides promised a currency award,” Priyanka, who is already moving with the income taxation section arsenic a taxation assistant, said.