JIND, HARYANA: Though Sudesh Devi looked remarkably calm and composed, her voice echoed with an overwhelming wave of inner joy. "I am so happy that I don't even feel hungry. My heart is swelling with pride, and I have no words to explain what I feel after learning that Neeru has won gold at the Asian Games," she shared.
Sudesh Devi had been standing in line to collect the subsidised government ration that her family depends on when the life-changing news reached her: her daughter had emerged as an Asian Games champion. In the quiet village of Sangatpura in Haryana’s Jind district, Sudesh once sold milk and counted every single rupee just to keep her daughter’s shooting dreams alive.
Today, Neeru Dhanda has made the entire nation proud by clinching two gold medals and a silver medal in shooting at the 2026 Asian Games. Reflecting on the agonizing past, Sudesh reminisced inside their modest family home, "I shudder to think about the years when even buying sporting equipment and ammunition was a massive strain on our household budget." She noted that while visitors and media crews now flood their home with congratulatory messages, the triumph feels profoundly worthwhile for a child who witnessed years of hardship.
When ETV Bharat visited the family residence, the stark reality of their background was evident. The rooms remained unpainted, damp patches from persistent rains marked the walls, and a small ceiling fan offered minimal relief from the heavy heat. A cramped kitchen occupied one corner, while buffaloes were tethered in a designated enclosure within the premises.
Neeru’s father, Suresh Kumar, cultivates just three acres of land, but the agricultural yield has barely been enough to sustain the household, forcing the family to rely heavily on government-subsidized food rations. Financing a capital-intensive sport like shooting was an uphill battle they could rarely afford.
"Neeru did not even have a gun of her own when she began. She learned with a borrowed weapon, practicing relentlessly and gradually carving out a place for herself. Her father did whatever he could, seeking help from others when his own resources fell short," Sudesh explained. Ammunition alone cost around ₹80 per round, making regular practice an enormous financial obstacle. To cope, Sudesh sold milk while the family stretched every limited resource to keep Neeru going. Balancing other responsibilities—including a married daughter and a son who is a wrestler—was a constant trial.
“We are zero-balance people. But our daughter has made a name for herself through sheer hard work, and that has erased all our worries,” Sudesh said, her voice thick with emotion.
A breakthrough arrived when Neeru successfully cleared trials with the Sports Authority of India (SAI), enabling her to pursue shooting with structured government support. In 2025, she achieved another milestone by joining the Indian Army as a Naib Subedar. Sudesh credited Neeru's unrelenting grit, coach Somveer Pehalwan, and vital government assistance for shaping her success.
As celebrations sweep across Sangatpura—a village of roughly 2,500 residents—preparations are underway to welcome the champion home. When asked what she expects from the government now, Sudesh replied simply, "We have no demands. The government has done a lot to make my daughter a champion. We are just happy and want Neeru to bring more laurels to the country."
As congratulatory messages continue to pour in, the family eagerly awaits Neeru's homecoming—complete with a special batch of homemade churma packed to sweeten her return.
