From farm families to Brazil: Jharkhand athletes Prithvi and Anokhi earn India call-up

Two young athletes from Jharkhand have earned an opportunity to represent India on the international stage, with Prithvi Oraon and Anokhi Kumari selected for the Under-17 World School Athletics Championships in Brazil.

Both athletes, who are currently training in Hazaribagh, will be part of the Indian contingent for the competition scheduled to be held from December 3 to 8.

Prithvi will compete in the long jump, while Anokhi will take part in the 400m hurdles. A total of 11 athletes from Jharkhand have reportedly been selected for the international competition.

Their selection is particularly significant given their backgrounds. Both athletes come from farming families and have progressed through sustained training despite limited resources.

Prithvi, a resident of Gumla, has been undergoing long-jump training in Hazaribagh for the past three years. Her father is a farmer and her mother is a homemaker. Through consistent training and improvement in performance, she first made her mark at the national level before earning her international selection.

Anokhi, who is from Ranchi, will represent India in the 400m hurdles. Her father is also involved in agriculture, while her mother is a homemaker. During her residential training in Hazaribagh, she has worked continuously on her technique and performance, eventually earning a place in the Indian team.

The road to Brazil will involve an intensive phase of preparation for both athletes. Before travelling for the championship, they are scheduled to attend a specialised training camp in Goa for around two and a half months, where they will focus on improving their fitness, technique and competitive preparedness.

They will train under coaches Neeraj Roy and Anukampa Runda during the camp as they prepare for the international competition.

The selection of the two athletes has generated excitement in Hazaribagh and across Jharkhand's sporting community. Sports administrator and social worker Harsh Ajmera felicitated both athletes and assured them of all possible support for their preparations.

For Prithvi and Anokhi, the Brazil championship represents another important step in their sporting journeys — from training grounds in Jharkhand to an international arena where they will now compete in the colours of India.