5 Indian female athletes who overcame great diversity to become sporting legends

In a society obsessed with seeing their young take up medicine and engineering as career options, sports (other than cricket) features fairly low on the radar. Pursuing a career in sports is difficult, thanks to lack of infrastructure and funds. And while all athletes in India have it tough, female sportpersons are even worse off. Yet, time and again, they have worked extra hard and defied all odds to make us proud.

Recently, Kozhikode-based powerlifter and arm wrestler Majiziya Bhanu qualified for the World Arm Wrestling Championship to be held in Turkey later this year. While she should have been training for the event, she instead found herself unable to raise the funds required. Why? Because she is a hijab-clad woman. She has gone on record to say that many even felt supporting a hijabi athlete might affect them adversely. Bhanu just about managed to make the deadline and is now all set to give her best shot at the World Championship.

5 female athletes who've beaten odds and achieved great success

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