Bhopal

‘Udanpari’ Bushra Gauri Khan of Sehore, Bhopal, has won gold in the Under-18 girls' class in the 21st National Games recently held in Guwahati.

She competed in 1,500 meters category and clicked 4 minutes 53 seconds.

Bushra is known as ‘Udanpari,’ the flying fairy in her home town for her speed in the arena.

Last year, Bushra’s had clicked 6 minutes 24 seconds at the 35th National Junior Athletics Championships in 2000 meters category. She had broken the five-year-old record held by a girl from UP.

She had also won the gold medal at the State-level the same year.

Daughter of a mill worker Gaffar Khan, the 16-year-old Bushra and her two sisters are all sportspersons. Her younger sister is an athlete and the youngest one a gymnast.

Bushra Gauri Khan with her father Gaffar Khan

Bushra's father and mother Shahnaz Gauri had shifted from Morena in search of livelihood 20 yrs ago.

Bushra is a student of 11th class in the Oxford Higher Secondary School. She was gifted with a scooter by her school for winning a national medal. The school is planning to honour her again.

Bushra told Awaz-the Voice, "I want to play for the country at the national level later." She is dreaming of representing India in Olympics and Asiad.

Currently, she is training in Bhopal under the aegis of the State’s sports department. The government has made all arrangements for her stay in the Bhopal stadium.

Ghaffar Khan has always managed to provide for Bushra's training and other requirements.

He said, "The entire family is encouraging girls to move forward in every way." He says he never felt any pressure from society on Bushra.

He is proud that Bushra is also good in studies; last year, she scored 75.5 per cent marks.

Bushra's younger sister Darkasha has also played at the state level.

Bushra had started working out from the local playground. Ever since her selection in the state’s squad, she lives in Bhopal l for 2-3 months each year for training.