Punjab: “When I was born, no one in my family was happy. I was my parents’ fourth daughter. I was named Aakhiri (last) to request God to prevent the birth of girls in the family,” said Aakhiri Sharma, who recently won a gold medal in fencing at the Khelo India University Games in Kota, Rajasthan. “Now, when I bring national-level medals to my parents and the country, they are proud of me—someone they previously considered an unwanted child.” Aakhiri, a resident of Hansi, Haryana, is a final-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Physical Education and Sports course at Hansraj Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Jalandhar. Since winning the medal, she has been participating in the Senior Asian Games camp in Aurangabad. Regarding her greatest achievement to date, the quiet but fierce athlete said: “Winning the silver medal in the women’s saber at the National Games in Uttarakhand earlier this year is my biggest achievement so far. I also won gold in the team event and bronze in the individual event at the Senior Nationals held in Delhi from November 15th to 19th. In March, I went to Egypt to participate in the Senior World Cup, but didn’t win a medal.” A farmer’s daughter, Aakhiri is coached by Sandeep Syal. HMV Sports Incharge Ramandeep said that Aakhiri’s performance improves every year. “We have high hopes for her whenever she plays her next international event,” he said. After Aakhiri, her parents had a fifth daughter. Once unwanted, Aakhiri is now the only sportswoman in her family, making her parents proud.
Punjab: My parents named me last, now they are proud of me
