How Arunachal's Rupa Bayor fought odds to become Taekwondo champion
Rupa Bayor and her being a path-breaking Taekwondo player is just one of the reasons. After all, the youngster from Arunachal Pradesh has spent a better part of her life punching back after being punched hard by life.
The most recent demonstration of it was an unprecedented bronze medal in the 8th Asian Taekwondo Poomsae Championships in Danang, Vietnam earlier this month, less than a year after being forced to skip the Asian Games because of denial of visa by China.
«I was always a very unyielding and combative person. I could get into a fight at the drop of a hat,» the 23-year-old told PTI in an interview as she talked about what drove her to Taekwondo given that Sippi village in Daporijo circle of Upper Subansiri district in Arunachal Pradesh isn't exactly the cradle of the sport.
The bespectacled youngster can't be faulted though; she lost her father while still a toddler and being the second among four siblings, she had to grow up quite quickly.
Part of the process included helping her mother in paddy farms as she toiled to ensure that the children got what was essential for some semblance of stability in life.
«I don't have any memories of my father although I remember his face clearly. I was just a toddler when he died. I remember that day,» she said.
«His body was lying on the floor covered by a sheet which had me believe that he was sleeping. I saw people coming in to offer prayers and condolences and that's when it probably struck me that something had happened.
»I asked my mother what was the
