Khelegi Betiyan Pahadon Ki, Badhega Samman Uttarakhand Ka!
On this International Women’s Day, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and the limitless potential of women everywhere. In Uttarakhand, this strength has always lived quietly in the mountains.
Across the hills, women walk long distances every day, climbing steep paths, carrying loads, working in the fields and managing homes. This demanding lifestyle builds extraordinary endurance, balance and mental toughness.
For generations, these abilities were simply seen as part of mountain life. Today, we are beginning to recognise them for what they truly are: the natural foundation of great athletes.
The daughters of Uttarakhand are slowly stepping from village trails onto sports fields and national platforms. When their natural strength is combined with opportunity, training and encouragement, the results can be remarkable.
Women sports persons like Ekta Bisht, Indian women’s cricket team player and Ankita Dhyani who has brought pride to the state in athletics show what is possible when talent meets opportunity.
At the Uttarakhand Sports Foundation New Delhi (USF), we believe that the mountains have already given our girls the strength to succeed, what they need now is support, access and belief.
Step onto the field. Run. Play. Compete.
The mountains have already prepared you to win.
Happy International Women’s Day.
Lieutenant Colonel Pooja Nautiyal
President, Women’s Wing
Uttarakhand Sports Foundation