LUCKNOW, May 6 -- Five kilometers on foot and then seven kilometers by bus - to make it to a three-hour strenuous training at the General Mohan Singh Sports Ground of Subharti Defense Academy. Here, athlete Rupa Chaudhary - who has been fighting against odds for survival - is put through the paces under the watchful guidance of ex-international athlete Nidhi Singh. That was the morning session. The whole routine is repeated again in the evening. With a good head on her shoulders, she realises that the sky is the limit if the requisite hard work is put in. That understanding is also buttressed by a dedication and a hunger for success - the way to a secure future where she can take care of her parents. Rupa, who hails from village Gawadi Mohiddinpur in Meerut, sews clothes in the daytime and invests her earnings in buying running shoes, kits etc., besides managing household things. Her dedication to running paid rich dividends only last week when she made her presence felt in the domestic circuit in a big way, winning a bronze medal in 400m event at the second National Relay Carnival Competition in Chandigarh, clocking 3:56 seconds. "Every time I run on a track, I see an opportunity to get rid of my life's struggles. From day one, I have been getting all kinds of support, including financial, from Nidhi Di and her husband, Anu Kumar, here in Meerut. I would have not survived in the sport, if the two were not supporting me," said Rupa, 21, a long jumper in the past. Rupa had desired results in the state championships since her entry to the short distance running in 2023 as she won gold and while running at Chandigarh's event, her first big stage, she wasn't afraid of running alongside some experienced rivals and was always hopeful of a podium finish. "I had hopes of a podium finish because I had worked hard for it. I felt if I won, it would be a steppingstone for me. Even a bronze medal has encouraged me to work harder so that I can change the colour of my medal at the forthcoming Inter-State Championship and other domestic events," said Rupa, who lost her brother a few years ago. "If my brother had been around me, I would have been getting more support in my life. But I am happy to have good people like Nidhi Mam around me, who advised me to start 400m running instead of long jump. It wasn't easy in the beginning, but I got good support from Mam and Anu Bhaiya," said Rupa, who is pursuing her B.PEd from Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut. She also said that through her success, she also wants to let the people of the area know that girls are no less, and they can also make a name for themselves and the family. "I do listen to a lot of taunts by the people and that girls shouldn't do sport. I always wanted to become a sports person since my childhood and that's why I used to participate in various athletics events during my school days," said Rupa, who starts her day's journey at four in the morning. "If I don't wake up so early, I will not be able to train and that long commute twice a day will be for nothing. Plus, I have to also give time to sewing work at home as it fetches me Rs 2,000-3,000 every month," she said....