Hindustan Times: MP: Tribal girl defies odds, eyes India hockey jersey

By Rohit Soni

The story of Saghu Davar can be that of a typical teenage tribal girl in a Madhya Pradesh town. She lives in a shanty along with her mother and six other siblings in the district.

A class 9 student at state-run Nutan Middle school, Saghu, 14, is funding her own education and is lending a helping hand to her mother cleaning utensils at people’s houses to make ends meet.

But Davar has a dream that sets her apart. She wants to represent the country in hockey like her ideal former Indian captain Ritu Rani.

She has oodles of talent, her coach Avinash Upadhyay said. “I have spotted her at the government school in Mandsaur when I went to select school state team. She is very dedicated and very talented. I fear she might have to drop out due to poor financial condition.”

Davar went on to play at under-14 National School Games Hockey in January at Ranchi. She has represented the state twice.

“I want to don the Indian colours and make the country proud,” Davar said with determination which has helped her to overcome all adversities so far.