Rickshaw Puller’s Daughter Defied Poverty and Betrayal; Bihar’s Anshu Trains Underprivileged Children in Cricket by Running a Tea Stall

Supaul/Noida: It is often said that determination and courage can overcome even the harshest circumstances. The life journey of Anshu Kumari, a young woman from Bihar’s Supaul district, stands as a living example of this belief. Today, Anshu is not only pursuing her own cricketing dreams in Noida but is also providing free cricket coaching to 22 underprivileged children—entirely at her own expense.

Anshu’s path from the narrow lanes of Supaul to the cricket grounds of Noida has been filled with hardship. Her father earned a living by pulling a rickshaw, but his prolonged illness and eventual death plunged the family into extreme financial distress. As a result, Anshu’s education and cricket training came to a sudden halt.

Amid these struggles, a coach promised her free cricket training in Noida. Trusting his words, Anshu moved to Noida with her mother, hoping for a fresh start. However, upon arrival, she faced a devastating betrayal when the coach backed out of his promise, leaving her stranded without support or resources.

Instead of giving up, Anshu chose resilience. To fund her cricket practice and daily survival, she gathered ₹20,000 and started a small tea stall. Her daily routine became a test of endurance—managing the tea stall early in the morning, practicing cricket under the scorching afternoon sun, and returning to sell tea again in the evening.

Over time, Anshu not only sustained herself but also transformed her struggle into a mission. She established the Anshu Cricket Academy in Noida, where she now trains 22 children from economically weaker backgrounds free of cost. She bears all the expenses herself, including the coach’s salary, ground rent, and sports equipment.

Speaking about her passion for cricket, Anshu recalls a childhood moment that changed her life. “I was once playing with my brother and bowled so fast that he was stunned. He told me I should play cricket seriously. That’s when my journey began,” she says. Even today, Anshu bowls at speeds of up to 110 km per hour.

Her ultimate dream remains unchanged—to wear the Indian cricket team jersey and represent the country on the international stage. Until that dream is fulfilled, Anshu continues to empower young talents, proving that adversity can be turned into opportunity with grit, self-belief, and relentless hard work.