Ridhi Phor made her Khelo India debut in 2018 but failed to make it to the semifinals. In 2019, she lost to Amanpreet Kaur in the bronze medal play-off in 2019. In 2020, she won the bronze.
For the 15 hockey players, who come mostly from one of the most backward, Maoist-affected areas of Jharkhand, hardships and setbacks are part of the landscape.
On the penultimate day too, both collected five gold medals each to maintain the status quo of the last couple of days, with Maharashtra holding a solitary gold advantage.
With, both, the hosts and the defending champions, winning one title each, Maharashtra held on to their solitary gold lead, with a total of 38 gold, 35 silver and 29 gold while Haryana have 37 gold, 34 silver and 39 bronze.
The boy from Tori Gaon in Amreli district of Gujarat had not even held a tennis racquet till he was 13. He would probably have never played the sport had his parents not taken the tough decision of sending him to a boarding school to ensure he gets a better education.