Jammu, June 27
A roadside cigarette vendor’s son from Jammu has made it to the Indian roller hockey team.

Living true to the saying “where there’s a will there’s a way”, Ankush Gupta (19), a resident of Peer Mitha Devidwar Gali here, has excelled against all odds to be chosen to represent India in the Asian Roller Hockey Championship scheduled to be held later this month.

Ankush, who plays as a goalkeeper, will have the company of his state mates - Vinay Bakshi and Gurjeet Singh in the Indian roller hockey (quad) team. Two other players from Jammu, Deepinder Singh and Arjun Gandotra, have been chosen for the roller skating (in-line) hockey team, a communication received by the JK Roller Skating Federation said here today.

Ankush Gupta’s father Ashok Kumar Gupta considers it as a major achievement for him as he single-handedly raised his son and four daughters after his wife died of cancer a few years ago.

“If only she was alive today, she would have been dancing with joy,” he remarked struggling to stop his tears. Ankush is doing BCA course.

His coach PP Singh says, “This (selection) can get him a good government job. He is young and has the potential to make a mark at the international level.”

Ankush remembers the day when his father took him to the skating rink. “I learnt it quickly and caught the eye of my coach. But soon I realised the game was not for me as the goalkeeper’s kit cost over Rs 15,000. It was here that my paternal uncle helped me. Later, GS Khurmi, president of the J&K Roller Skating Association and vice-president of the Roller Skating Federation of India, helped me a lot,” Ankush said.

Khurmi said he was proud of Ankush and four other players from the region who would be representing India soon.