Jaipur, Dec 5 (NationPress) Neeta Kumari, an athlete from Kurukshetra University, might have been compelled to marry by now if not for the unwavering support of her mother and sisters, who encouraged her to pursue her athletic ambitions.

Neeta, hailing from a family with five sisters and a brother, all of whom have represented Rajasthan in various sports, stands as the second eldest. Her journey to the podium at the Khelo India University Games 2025, where she clinched a bronze medal in heptathlon, has been a tale woven with both struggle and perseverance.

At the tender age of 8, Neeta faced a life-altering tragedy when her father, Teja Ram, a government contractor in Mumbai, lost his life to an electric shock in their hometown of Dhamseen village, located in Rajasthan’s Jalore district. This unfortunate event occurred in 2013 when her mother, Parwati Devi, was just 36 and pregnant with Neeta’s youngest sibling. Following this loss, the family had to leave Mumbai and start anew in their village.

As time passed, when Neeta’s younger sister Gomti was married off at the age of 18, it seemed like Neeta might meet the same fate. However, recognizing Neeta's passion for athletics, her mother encouraged her to continue her journey in sports, a decision that is now yielding positive results.

On Thursday, despite battling multiple injuries over the past year, Neeta made a spectacular comeback by securing bronze at the Khelo India University Games 2025. This medal marks her first achievement at a national-level competition, and she is eager to build on this newfound momentum.

Neeta began her athletic journey in 2019 but truly committed to training only after the pandemic lockdown in 2022. Initially participating in high jump and sprinting, her coach later recognized her potential and directed her towards the heptathlon, an intense two-day event that includes hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200m, long jump, javelin, and 800m.

This year was Neeta's debut at the Khelo India University Games. She missed the last edition due to a back injury and still competed this year despite a leg injury. However, being so close to home fueled her determination to participate.

Currently training at Karnal Stadium, Neeta set her sights on achieving a personal best of 4862 points, a score that would have secured her the gold medal, as KIIT’s Isha Chander Prakash topped with 4857 points, establishing a new meet record. Magudeeshwari S of Manonmaniam University took home silver with 4648 points.

“I aimed for my personal best here, but the leg injury hindered my performance. Had I achieved that, I could have clinched the gold, but this bronze is my first medal at a national level, and it will inspire me further,” Neeta told SAI Media.

She attributes her success to her strong support system, especially her mother and coaches. “My current achievements are a result of my mother’s sacrifices. There was a time when we were on the brink of leaving our education behind due to financial hardships after losing our father. My mother not only held our family together but also motivated me to continue my sports journey.

“My coaches have always stood by me through every challenge,” she added.

For Neeta, who once feared she might have to abandon her dreams, the bronze medal at KIUG 2025 gleams like gold.