IMPHAL, Oct 18: “Where there is will there is success” this is the spirit that Atom Sandhyarani Devi, 30, daughter of late A.Mangol and late A. Yumshang Devi of Khongman Zone-III Pandit Leikai, who grew up with three brothers and two younger sisters said and demonstrated winiing a bronze medal for India on the first day of the 19th Common Wealth Games held at New Delhi in the Weight Lifting event of 48 Kg category with a total clearance of 165 kgs said, Atom Ongbi Sunderi Devi, elder sister in-law in an interview by the IPF this afternoon.
Sundari Devi further recalled that her sister in-law fate has not been kind to Sandhyarani as she lost both parents young and was brought up by her three elder brother.
She was however fortunate to have all her siblings encouraging her to pursue a career in sports.
Her impoverished family was not able to afford her higher education but the family did everything within their means to put Sandhyarani on her sporting career.
Sandhyarani Devi completed class 12 standard and from there on gave full concentration to the field of game and sport, specially in pursuit of her desire to become a successful weightlifter.
Eventually Sandhyarani Devi began to shine in her career caught the attention of sports authorities. For the first time in 1999 she participated the 5th National Games held in the state during which she won a bronze medal representing the Karnataka, after that, she also took a silver medal in the 13th National Games that held at Punjab during 2001.
She then achieved her dream of winning a gold medal in the Hyderabad National Games representing Karnataka again.
She has since participated at many international competitions, including several Commonwealth Games in the past.
Acknowledging her contribution to sports, she was recruited in the CRPF as a head constable and recently has been posted in New Delhi.
She further recalled that it was really a moment of elation for the family when Sandhyarani called them and informed them to watch the events of the Delhi Commonwealth Games. Her match was telecast live at 2 pm of October 4, but the family had a hard time to manage the power supply due to the load shedding but some how the they could watch hiring a power generator even though the generator kept breaking down during the event.
Sundari said they missed watching the final moment because of generator failure but their anxiety came to a happy end when Sandhyarani Devi herself confirmed she had won the Bronze medal.