Elizabeth Beck, a 28-year-old tribal girl from Chhattisgarh’s Jashpur, has been selected for the National Games after becoming the best cyclist in the state. The CFI Cycle Federation of India has selected Elizabeth from Chhattisgarh on the basis of her performance.
Hailing from the small town of Jashpur, Elizabeth has beaten all the odds and proved herself to be the best cyclist in the state.
The enthusiastic cyclist has reached this pedestal despite her family’s financial conditions and lack of equipment and made her family proud with her selection for the National Games.
Speaking to ANI, the cyclist said that she had not received any help from the government although her family was struggling with financial problems.
“We are short of bicycle equipment and short of money. I have not received any help from the government,” she said.
However, she is now seeking support from the government to move forward and hone her skills further. “Lack of equipment and money causes issues in training. Am I not allowed to play just because I am poor? Those participating in National Games are helped by their governments, but I have been going on my own,” the cyclist said, adding that in other states, the participant in the National Games gets help from the government, but in Chhattisgarh, it is not so.
“We have to go there with our own money. I am going there having confidence in myself. I will try my best to win there,” she added.
Elizabeth›s mother said that she was making her proud with her hard work. To make ends meet, she is working as a domestic helper in a household where her master gifted her an old bicycle for her hard work.