INSPIRING STORY: Once a milk-seller, Renuka Yadav now part of hockey squad for Rio Olympics

New Delhi: As Hockey India (HI) announced the named of India's women's 16-member squad for upcoming Rio Olympics on Tuesday, it was a huge day for Renuka Yadav, who hails from Chhattisgarh.

Coming from a lower middle-class family, Renuka used to go door-to-door to sell milk as her parents worked as domestic helps, according to a report in The Times of India.

Sharing her ordeal, Renuka told the newspaper, “It was not an easy journey. I belong to a lower middle-class family. I used to sell milk while my parents did household work like dusting and cleaning in others home to earn a livelihood."

Renuka, who has become the first woman Olympian from Chhattisgarh, was delighted with the fact that Indian women's team has qualified for the prestigious event after a gap of 36 years.

“This is a golden moment of my life. We have got the opportunity to be at the Olympics after a long gap of 36 years. I am happy to be the first ever woman Olympian of Chhattisgarh," she said.

In a bold move, HI sacked regular skipper Ritu Rani and appointed Sushila Chanu as the new captain of the team.

Complete squad: Goalkeeper: Savita Defenders: Deep Grace Ekka, Deepika (vice-captain), Namita Toppo, Sunita Lakra (defender), Sushila Chanu (captain). Midfielders: Navjot Kaur, Monika, Renuka Yadav, Lilima Minz. Forwards: Anuradha Devi, Poonam Rani, Vandana Kataria, Rani Rampal, Preeti Dubey, Nikki Pradhan. On standby: Rajani Etimarpu, H. Lalruat Feli.