Bharatpur, Dec 10 (NationPress) Despite their contrasting backgrounds, both athletes share a common aspiration—to represent their nation on a continental stage. Bharti hails from Haryana while Devika Satyajit Ghorpade comes from Maharashtra.

During the boxing events at the 2025 Khelo India University Games (KIUG) in Rajasthan, Bharti competed for Maharshi Dayanand University, Haryana, and secured a silver in the women’s minimum (45-48kg) category. Meanwhile, Devika, representing Savitribai Phule Pune University, Maharashtra, clinched a gold in the women’s fly (52kg) category as anticipated.

These two athletes come from distinctly different socio-economic backgrounds. The 23-year-old Bharti’s father works as a laborer in a brick factory, earning between Rs 250-300 a day. Conversely, Devika’s father owns a construction company.

Both deserve immense recognition—Bharti for her resilience amid financial hardships and Devika for her ambition, choosing a path beyond a conventional lifestyle.

Initially, the 20-year-old Devika aspired to become a professional Western dancer, starting her dance lessons in Pune as a child. However, after watching the Rio Olympics in 2016, her father encouraged her to pursue a sport, leading her to consider both wrestling and boxing.

An inspiring article on Olympian and Arjuna Awardee Manoj Pingale from Pune ultimately swayed her decision towards boxing. Bharti, on the other hand, drew inspiration from her cousin Monika in Rohtak, who successfully represented India.

Bharti, belonging to the Scheduled Caste, aptly states that even a little financial support can significantly impact an athlete's life. “Athletes from our backgrounds face immense challenges. At first, we lack even the essentials like equipment, nutrition, and accommodation. If circumstances don’t change—often they don’t for many of us—our performance and motivation suffer. We could excel if we weren't burdened by these concerns,” Bharti shared after winning her first KIUG medal on her third attempt.

“This is where platforms like Khelo India become crucial, easing our journey. However, we need more assistance at our level. Support is unnecessary once one becomes a superstar; it's the aspiring athletes who require it most,” added Bharti, a 2019 Youth National gold medalist from Uttarakhand.

Devika, an accomplished athlete, was crowned the 2022 Youth World Champion in Spain and also bagged a gold medal at the Golden Glove of Vojvodina Youth Boxing Tournament in Serbia months earlier.

In the Asian Junior Championships held in Dubai in 2021, she secured a bronze, and another bronze at the 2024 Under-22 Asian Championships in Kazakhstan. Additionally, she has earned three golds at the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) and trains at the prestigious SAI National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly known as Aurangabad).

“I am focusing on the Senior Nationals. If I win, I will represent India in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Asian Games in Japan next year. Khelo India is an excellent platform, offering numerous competitive opportunities,” expressed Devika, who won her first KIUG match against Mohini from the Sports University of Haryana in the final.