My close friends were all married off early. But I am lucky to be born in this family : Indian women's hockey goalie Savita Punia

Cut to India, and the only women in sports that this nation remembers are Sania and Saina. The cheerleaders at IPL have probably gathered more screen-time than India's other sportswomen put together. Amid all this, the story of young Savita Punia from a village in Haryana now representing the nation at the Olympics is nothing short of fairytale-ish.

However, the girls are not ready to rest just yet. They realize that the pressure has only gotten bigger with the success. The burden of hope weighs heavy when Savita replies to our query on India's Olympic aspiration.

Rohtak to Rio is a long way, and Savita still remains close to her roots despite all the new attention. We joke if she still loves being home after all the international tours, and she says, “Yes, my family still stays in the same village, and I still love being there (laughs). My relatives and friends say that, “I do not think you like it here anymore’. But that is not true. Because here we are always under pressure, and always working hard. We go back to our rooms to rest, then may be we will go for shopping—all that is fine, but the relaxation you feel at home can not be replaced. My mom, despite suffering from thyroid problems, still cooks food for me.”

Savita is the younger of two kids with an elder brother a year older. However, she has luckily not had to endure the normal life of girl from these parts, partly thanks to her family. She tells us about how all her school friends are married while she has been away winning medals for the nation. She lapses into nostalgia as she talks about the growing up that she appears to have missed out on.

When I was on my first tour, I had received an invitation of her marriage. I was shocked as to how someone can marry at such a young age. But there is nothing like that in my family. I am lucky that I was born in this family, because when I was small, and I saw a lot of news on the TV about female foeticide and infanticide. I used to tell my dad that I would put everyone in jail if something like that happens with me (laughs). But I have never felt anything other than love from my family.

Her parents must be real proud of what she has achieved in this short while? Bang comes the answer. “That is something only they can answer. But all I ever wanted was to earn respect from my parents, and that is something I have been able to do. My mom always tells me, 'anyone can become a doctor or an engineer, but what you have done is something we are very proud of’ ”.

Every girl in the team has a similar story - battling society, and financial difficulties. Most were lucky like Savita to have the backing to get through against the odds. They visit family twice in a year when they have a long break away from the gruel of international tours and practice camps. This year has especially been strenuous with the run-up to the Olympics, says Savita.

Back to business, and we ask how they are looking at the Olympics and the teams. “Personally my favorite team is Holland. They play quick passes. They have the best drag flickers for penalty corners. So the best thing for us is that they are not in our pool. There is Australia and New Zealand, and we have had some close matches against them in the past 3-4 tours. In the Test match we lost on shootout, in New Zealand we had a 1-1 draw. We have played a lot against Australia, and that has given us a lot of confidence. We will know exactly where we stand when we face them again at Rio,” she says confidently.

The qualification has however helped them get to the next level. As we walk out Savita talks about how they struggled, until recently, without even the basic facilities that we take for granted speaking to an international athlete – the girls did not have laptops to watch match replays until recently.

Sport in this country has a long way to go, it appears – any sport that does not feature a bat. However, this motley bunch of girl-women have taken it in their stride. They still have a long way to go as well – their campaign will very well end earlier than they hope, but they have already achieved something remarkable against all odds. Even if they do not win an improbable-looking medal, they have paved the way for a generation of girls who will look up to them over the years. The medal may not appear now because we as a nation do not deserve it, but the road looks a wee bit brighter. Good luck, girls!