Single mother force behind Anju’s success
PUNE: Teenage Haryana wrestler Anju, who won gold in under-17 women’s 53kg category here, was initiated into wrestling by her peasant father, Naresh.
However, just when she was ready to start her professional career, tragedy struck. Naresh, the lone breadwinner of a family of six members including four daughters and one son, died of an illness in 2013. Anju, who was 13 then, felt her world sinking.
It was then that her mother, Phoolwati, decided to take up farming and take care of her family besides encouraging her youngest daughter to pursue her dream in wrestling.
Today, three of her daughters are happily married and the youngest son is doing well in studies.
However, because of her efforts, Anju continued to play and today she is being touted as one of the most promising young