Every evening in a small, dilapidated house in Chandra village near Ranchi, a young girl’s mother worries about the walls collapsing during heavy rains. That girl is not just anyone; she is Divyani Linda, India’s rising women’s footballer who has represented the nation at the Under-16 and Under-17 levels. Her story is not only about breaking through poverty with hard work but also about the irony of returning from international tournaments to a home held together by mud walls, wooden poles, and plastic sheets.

The Weight of Poverty Off the Field

Divyani’s father passed away four years ago, leaving the family in dire financial conditions. Her mother works as a daily wage laborer to provide for Divyani, her sick brother, and two younger sisters. The family’s house, a fragile mud structure with visible cracks and a leaking roof, remains on the brink of collapse. For Divyani, even after scoring goals in front of cheering crowds, the real fear begins once she steps back home: Will my house still be standing tomorrow? The contrast is heartbreaking. On the walls of this broken house hang medals and certificates from national and international tournaments, gleaming reminders of her hard work. 

A Daily Routine of Sacrifice

Divyani’s journey has been carved through unimaginable dedication. She used to wake up at 4 a.m. every morning, walking nearly 5 kilometers on broken roads and through muddy paths to reach her football ground for practice. The weather, poverty, and hunger could not stop her spirit. Despite these hardships, Divyani’s achievements speak for her. She has represented Jharkhand in Khelo India and SGFI national-level tournaments and made her mark in senior nationals as well. 

Internationally, she became part of the Indian squad in the SAFF U-16 Women’s Championship in Nepal, where she scored crucial goals, helping India secure victories. In 2025, she once again made headlines when a viral video captured her stunning top-bin goal against Bhutan in the SAFF U-17 Women’s Championship, a strike that showcased her technical brilliance and attacking instinct. Social media celebrated her as the “next big thing” in Indian women’s football.

Mental Battles Beyond the Field

For Divyani, the real conflict is not just with defenders on the pitch but with the mental battles off it. Even during practice camps, her thoughts circle back to her family’s safety.Her dream is not about luxury. She doesn’t ask for riches. All she wants is to build a small, safe, concrete house for her mother and siblings—a place where they don’t have to sleep with the fear of the roof caving in.

Divyani Linda’s journey is more than just an inspiring tale of sporting grit. It is a mirror to society and the system, a reminder of how often India’s grassroots athletes are celebrated in the moment of victory but abandoned in their daily struggles. Her story reflects the glaring gap between recognition and support. If India dreams of becoming a sporting powerhouse, it cannot afford to let its brightest stars live in such dire conditions. Her medals should not hang on broken walls; they deserve to shine in a home as strong as her spirit.

A Goal for the Future

At just 17, Divyani has already achieved what many can only dream of: representing India internationally and scoring memorable goals. But the goal closest to her heart remains simple: to build a safe house for her family. Her journey is a call for collective responsibility of the government, sporting bodies, and society. Supporting Divyani and athletes like her is not charity; it is an investment in the nation’s future. Because for every Divyani, there are thousands of young talents waiting to rise above poverty, if only given the right support. She has shown that poverty can delay dreams but cannot defeat them. Yet, her struggle for a roof over her head reminds us that true victory lies not just in scoring goals for the country but in ensuring that champions don’t return to crumbling homes after the final whistle.