Tridib BaparnashNew Delhi, Sept. 10 -- At 15, Dangi Mardi already knows what it means to work for a dream. A few years ago, football for the Jamshedpur teenager meant playing on a neighbourhood ground, often alongside boys, with little access to coaching or competitive matches. Today, she trains at the Zinc Football Academy at Zawar, Udaipur, plays in organised tournaments, and has even had a taste of the India camp.
The journey has not been easy, but Dangi has never looked too far ahead. Her parents are daily-wage workers, and football was not something her family could afford to pursue through expensive coaching or facilities. What she had was a nearby ground, a love for the game and the determination to keep playing.
"I started playing...