Imphal: Ningombam Diana, a Taekwondo player, sells fruit salad every morning at the busy Kangla road in the heart of the city to continue her dream of achieving success in the sports arena. Diana finds little time to speak to anybody as she is busy preparing fruit salad from around 3.30 am to 8 am.
Speaking to UNI, Diana said she is not interested in assistance or philanthropic donations from anybody, but she wants to show everyone that it is possible look after one's family, and still fulfill their dreams.
The morning hours after 3.30 am is normally packed with people, both young and and old, and it is the peak hour for shopping in the Khwairamban Keithel, the main market of the city. Life normally starts early in Manipur as it is the eastern most corner of the country bordering Myanmar.
Diana packs fresh fruits and hands out to the customers with a smile.She said somebody posted her photograph in the social media and it went viral. After that many people had been coming to enquire about her story.
After going home she spends the afternoon practicing Taekwondo. Her family cannot support her sports career as it is expensive and it is difficult for Diana to bear the huge expenses of international tournaments.
Diana said she wants to show to all that one can earn their livelihood by taking different ventures.
All Manipur Taekwondo Association , Secretary, Jasobanta , when contacted, expressed happiness over the way she was using her time and looking after her family.
She is not in the present team of Manipur Taekwondo players but earlier she was one of the members, he said.
The association will take care of the expenses during international tournaments of the selected players, he added.