‘No one will marry her’: Baranica defies taunts to make pole vault history at Asiad
Indian pole vaulter Baranica Elangovan overcame social stigma and a serious ACL injury to win a bronze medal at the Asian Games. Her success marks a historic milestone for Indian athletics in a sport previously discouraged by her community.
Why it matters
The story highlights the intersection of gender, cultural expectations, and professional sports in rural communities.
NEW DELHI: For Baranica Elangovan, the Asian Games bronze medal in Nagoya was about much more than clearing a bar at 4.15m. It was a moment of vindication after years of injury, doubt and questions over whether a woman from her village should even be taking up a sport considered risky.When the 24-year-old Indian took up pole vaulting, people around her questioned the decision and warned her parents that an injury could affect her future.“I come from a village. When I started, I underwent ACL surgery after an injury while vaulting in 2019. At that time, everyone was telling my parents, ‘Why let a girl take part in Pole Vault? This event is quite risky. If something happens to her, no one will marry her.’ They were talking behind our backs,” Elangovan told IANS after winning bronze.But her parents refused to listen.“But my mum and dad believed in me.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in