Unbreakable spirits

Reetika Hooda stared at the sprawling Paris skyline from her modest hotel room. The Eiffel Tower stood tall in the distance, a beacon of the city’s grandeur and history. Yet, as she gazed at it, she felt a knot tighten in her stomach. The Paris Olympics had always been a dream, but now, standing on the precipice of her biggest challenge, the reality felt overwhelming.

Reetika was a wrestler, and the journey to this moment had been anything but easy. Growing up in a small village in Haryana, she had faced relentless opposition to her passion. Wrestling, many said, was not for girls. But Reetika had a fire in her soul, a determination that could not be quenched by societal norms. She trained in secret, using makeshift weights and practicing moves on a dirt floor. Her body bore the scars of countless battles, not just in the ring but against the prejudices of her world.

Aditi Ashok, on the other hand, had a different path. As a golfer, her battlegrounds were the expansive, manicured greens of golf courses, far removed from the dusty wrestling pits of Haryana. Yet, her struggle was no less intense. Golf was a sport that demanded perfection, and the pressure was relentless. Aditi had faced her own set of challenges – being one of the few Indian women in a sport dominated by the West, battling the elements, and fighting the voices in her head that whispered doubt.

Both women had sacrificed more than most could imagine. Reetika had given up a life of comfort and conformity, choosing instead to break the mold of what was expected of her. She had missed out on the simple joys of youth – the carefree days, the laughter with friends, the innocence of first love – all because she had committed herself to a dream that was as unforgiving as it was glorious.

Aditi, too, had walked a lonely road. The long hours of practice, the endless travel, the isolation of being on the tour, often far from home and loved ones, had taken a toll. The world saw her as the poised, calm golfer who never let her emotions show. But inside, she wrestled with the weight of expectations – her own and those of a billion people back home.

As the Paris Olympics drew near, both women found themselves at a crossroads. For Reetika, every training session was a battle against her own limitations. Her body ached in ways she had never experienced before. The years of rigorous training had left their mark – knees that creaked with every squat, shoulders that screamed in protest at every lift. But it was her spirit that bore the heaviest burden. The fear of failure was a constant companion, gnawing at her resolve, whispering that maybe, just maybe, she wasn’t good enough.

Aditi, too, felt the strain. The pressure to perform, to justify the years of sacrifice, was immense. Every missed putt, every stray shot was a blow to her confidence. She spent sleepless nights going over her game in her head, analyzing every mistake, questioning every decision. The weight of representing her country, of being a trailblazer in Indian golf, pressed down on her like a physical force. She knew that the world would be watching, waiting to see if she could deliver on the promise she had shown.

Despite the weight of their challenges, neither woman was willing to give up. They drew strength from their pasts, from the battles they had already won. Reetika remembered the countless times she had been told that she couldn’t do it, that wrestling wasn’t for girls. She remembered the look of pride in her father’s eyes when she won her first state championship, a look that had been her guiding star ever since. She couldn’t let him down now, not when she was so close to the ultimate prize.

Aditi thought of her parents, who had supported her unconditionally, even when the odds were stacked against her. She thought of the young girls back home who looked up to her, who saw in her a possibility for their own dreams. She couldn’t let them down, not now, not when she was so close to making history.

The night before their respective events, both Reetika and Aditi found themselves alone with their thoughts. Reetika sat cross-legged on the floor of her hotel room, eyes closed, breathing deeply. She pictured herself in the ring, every move, every counter, every possible scenario playing out in her mind. She felt the adrenaline coursing through her veins, felt the familiar tingle of anticipation. She was ready. She had to be.

Aditi stood by the window, staring out at the city. She could see the golf course in the distance, a sprawling sea of green under the night sky. She thought of all the rounds she had played, all the tournaments she had fought through, all the times she had come so close but fallen short. Tomorrow, she promised herself, would be different. Tomorrow, she would silence the doubts, ignore the pressure, and play the game she loved with all her heart.

The day of their events dawned clear and bright. The sun shone down on Paris, casting a golden glow over the city. In the wrestling arena, Reetika stepped onto the mat, her heart pounding in her chest. The crowd roared, but she barely heard it. Her focus was razor-sharp, her mind a fortress against the noise and the fear. Her opponent was strong, quick, and determined, but Reetika was a warrior. Every move, every hold, every throw was a testament to the years of hard work, the pain, the sacrifice. She fought like her life depended on it, because in a way, it did.

On the golf course, Aditi teed up her first shot. The crowd was silent, the pressure palpable. But as she drew her club back, all she felt was calm. The swing was perfect, the ball sailing through the air, landing exactly where she had aimed. Shot after shot, putt after putt, Aditi played the game of her life. Every stroke was a release, a letting go of the doubt, the fear, the pressure. She was in the zone, a place where nothing else existed but her and the game.

When it was all over, both women stood victorious. Reetika, drenched in sweat, her body bruised and battered, held her head high as the referee raised her arm in victory. The crowd erupted, but all she could hear was the sound of her father’s voice in her head, telling her he was proud.

Aditi stood on the 18th green, the sun setting behind her, casting a warm glow over the course. She had done it. She had played her best, and it was enough. As the applause washed over her, she felt a weight lift from her shoulders. She had made her mark, not just for herself, but for everyone who had ever dared to dream.

Reetika and Aditi had come to Paris with heavy hearts and high hopes. They left as Olympians, their spirits unbreakable, their determination unyielding. They had faced their fears, fought their battles, and emerged victorious. And in doing so, they had shown the world the true meaning of courage, of resilience, of determination.