The Asian Athletics Championship gold medalist Gomathi Marimuthu made India proud when she bit the elusive gold medal in the 800-metres track event at the recently-concluded Asian Athletic Championships in Doha, Qatar. she comes from humble background and had to battle several odds which came her way before making it big on the track. Gomathi, in an emotional presser, revealed the struggle she underwent before making a mark in athletics.

“My father ate the food kept for cattle in order to provide me with decent food so that I can train for athletics,” said a tearful Gomathi Marimuthu at a press meet on Friday in Chennai.

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An emotional Gomathi said,  “My father was not able to walk when I was training for the championship. We don’t have bus or light facilities in my village. So to catch the bus at 4.30, my father used to wake me up at 4 am and help me with household work if my mother is not well. I miss him,”

She further added, “When my father was not well and admitted in the hospital, he ate the food kept for cattle just because he wanted to provide food for me for sports training I still cannot accept or forget it. If he was alive now, I would have considered him as my God," she added remembering the heartbreaking incident before breaking into tears.

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Gomathi's gold was India's first medal at the Asian Athletic Championships making it a more special achievement for the 30-year-old, who barely could manage the expenses of her training on her own but decided not to give up despite receiving no help from the government.