TEDx Talks - Wining Against All Odds | Neelu Mishra | TEDxSunbeam College Varanasi Women
The speaker narrates her inspiring journey from a small district in India to becoming a national athlete, despite societal and health challenges. Born in a conservative family, she faced resistance for pursuing sports, but was inspired by PT Usha's success. Her determination led her to excel in various sports during school, despite initial discouragement due to her height. After marriage, she faced further challenges, including health issues like severe bleeding and kidney failure. However, her willpower and support from her family helped her recover and return to athletics. She lost 30 kg in three months and won medals in national and international competitions, including a bronze at the World Championships in Finland. She emphasizes the importance of discipline, time management, and perseverance. Additionally, she supports young girls in sports through a club she founded, helping them achieve success in various fields. Her story highlights the power of determination and the impact of supporting others.
Key Points:
- Determination can overcome societal and health challenges.
- Support from family is crucial in pursuing dreams.
- Discipline and time management are key to success.
- Supporting others can create a positive impact.
- Overcoming personal challenges can lead to inspiring achievements.
Details:
1. ЁЯОд Introduction and Early Life
- The speaker expresses gratitude for being invited, indicating a welcoming environment and potential collaboration opportunities.
- The motivational quote 'Destinations are achieved by those whose dreams have vitality' suggests the importance of having strong, alive dreams for success.
- Another quote 'It is not the wings but the efforts that allow you to fly' emphasizes the significance of hard work and determination over mere potential or resources.
- The speaker's journey is described as one of hustle, originating from a small district, Basti, in 1973, highlighting the long-term effort and growth.
- The mention of currently being in Varanasi at the age of 50+ indicates personal and professional development over decades, offering a perspective on longevity and perseverance in one's career.
2. ЁЯПГтАНтЩАя╕П Inspiration from PT Usha
- PT Usha's athletic journey began in a modest district, showcasing her rise from limited resources to international acclaim.
- She faced cultural challenges, with societal norms dictating that daughters should stay home, reflecting the gender biases in sports.
- There was a prevalent belief that sports could negatively impact a girl's marriage prospects, illustrating the stigma faced by female athletes.
- Her participation and success in the 1980 Asian Games marked a pivotal moment, breaking societal norms and paving the way for future female athletes.
- PT Usha's achievements not only brought her personal success but also inspired a shift in societal perceptions regarding women in sports.
3. ЁЯСйтАНЁЯСзтАНЁЯСж Family Expectations and Challenges
3.1. Personal Achievements and Inspirations
3.2. Family Challenges
4. ЁЯПЕ First Achievements and Support
- The speaker's mother-in-law and mother received the prestigious President's Award for teachers, which inspired and supported the speaker's pursuits.
- Despite societal pressures and threats, the speaker's family, particularly the mother, was supportive of the speaker's ambitions in sports.
- The speaker formed a girls' team and began practicing in 1989, leading to participation in national competitions, including the first national event in Calicut.
- The speaker achieved significant success, becoming the Uttar Pradesh champion for five consecutive years and setting a 100-meter record of 12 seconds, which remains unbroken.
- The speaker participated in approximately 121 national competitions before getting married in 1995.
5. ЁЯТк Overcoming Health Struggles
- The speaker faced significant cultural and familial pressure to abandon personal aspirations after marriage, despite being selected for the India team and employed by Western Railway for a sports career.
- In 1995, societal norms severely restricted career opportunities for women, often limiting them to traditional roles.
- Upon marriage, the speaker encountered resistance to continuing her sports career, reflecting societal expectations for women post-marriage.
- Despite cultural challenges, she transitioned to a government role in the Women and Child Development Department, indicating a shift from sports to a 'normal life'.
- After a miscarriage in 2000, the speaker endured three years of continuous health struggles, including severe bleeding and side effects from extensive medical treatments.
- These health struggles significantly impacted her career trajectory, forcing a move away from sports to focus on recovery and stability.
- The experience highlights the intersection of societal expectations and personal health in shaping career paths for women in that era.
6. ЁЯПЖ Return to Athletics and New Goals
- Overcoming significant health challenges, including near kidney failure between 2001 and 2003, the speaker displayed immense willpower to recover and return to normalcy by 2008.
- Despite weighing 90 kg, the speaker decided to reclaim her life and athletic prowess, inspired by her past as a good athlete.
- The speaker discovered the Masters' Championship and All India Civil Services competitions, which motivated her to pursue her dream of running again despite societal expectations.
- She trained rigorously, losing 30 kg in three months in 2008, demonstrating remarkable dedication and discipline.
- In the same year, she won a gold and a silver medal at the national level, which led to her selection for the World Championship in Finland, where she won a bronze medal for India.
- She broke societal norms by competing in sports after marriage and motherhood, becoming the first woman from Uttar Pradesh to win a medal at the World Championship.
7. ЁЯМЯ Achievements in National and International Competitions
- In 2010, the athlete represented India as the captain of the Indian women's team at the Asian Championship, which had about 700 participants, including 350 women.
- The athlete set a national record for India during the competition, gaining significant recognition across Asia.
- Achieved this while managing personal challenges, including a significant weight reduction of 30 kg, and balancing family commitments with intense training, dedicating 6-7 hours daily despite a full-time job and a young child at home.
8. ЁЯСЯ Overcoming Physical Challenges
- Despite being advised by doctors to stop running due to 75% arthritis, the individual continued and won over 100 medals for India in the past 10 years.
- Achieved an Asian record and became a winner at the 2014 Asian Championship in Malaysia, representing India.
- Managed to balance a demanding schedule that included practicing, working, and family responsibilities, starting the day at 4 AM and ending at 10 PM.
- Represented India as team captain six times in various championships, including Asian, Asia-Pacific, and World Championships.
- Served as a brand ambassador for government campaigns like 'Beti Bachao' and election commissions, highlighting a journey from severe health challenges to significant public roles.
9. ЁЯОЦя╕П World Championship Experiences
9.1. Personal Achievements in Championship
9.2. General Insights and Strategies
10. ЁЯдЭ Giving Back to the Community
- A personal practice of maintaining a diary to note down what went wrong in competitions, which helps in future events.
- Faced societal challenges regarding women in sports, especially after marriage, but overcame them to achieve significant personal goals.
- Set a personal target of running a specific time and achieved it, creating a national record at the age of 38.
- Transformed the mindset in Uttar Pradesh regarding women in sports, leading to over 100 women representing India.
- Established a club to adopt 40 girls annually, providing training and facilities from personal salary, resulting in over 300 children pursuing careers in law enforcement and sports.
- Received threats from parents in Naxalite areas, but successfully gained their trust, leading to girls joining BSF and CISF.