Rikjana, Majhi girl, wins four gold with perseverance

Flooding in the Myagdi River had swept away the house and land of Rikjana Majhi. The natural disaster turned her family landless.

Her father Tilak and mother Bishnu worked hard on daily wage to eke out a livelihood for their family.

Rikjana, 14, of Mangala Rural Municipality-5, Pok Village has been striving her best in both education and sports.

Quite recently she won four gold medals in different genres of athletics in the district-level 8th President Running Shield. Rikjana was also declared the best player of the tournament. She has become an example for others to attain success through perseverance despite plights.

After the rain-fed Myagdi river flooding took away their house, the Majhi family has been residing in a makeshift house. Like her parents she has also been engaged in daily wage works in leisure. She spends remaining time studying and playing sports.

School teacher Harka Chhantyal said Rikjana has set an example that poverty does not block the success attained with consistency.

Rikjana clinched four gold medals in triple jump and a relay marathon in the President Running Shield championship recently held in Myagdi headquarters Beni. Earlier too, she won six gold medals in the local government level President Running Shield held last January.

Rikjana is an eighth grader of Mangala Secondary School at Babiyachaur. She is an emerging athletic player in the district.

Her school was successful in attaining third top position in the district because of her performance. "I can do further better if I get opportunity and environment", she said with happiness.

Majhi's family condition is very weak. They are facing daily hand-to-mouth problems. But, Rikjana has brought a light in her family through her success in sports.

Mangala secondary school sports teacher Chhantyal said the school had also attained success in clinching silver and bronze medals in athletics group because of Rikjana's performance.

Chairperson of District Sports Development Committee, Dinesh KC pledged to extend all possible support to promote sports life of Rikjana who was reared in a poor family. "Local governments should help bring out the latent talents of such youth", he said.