Ivanka Trump praises Jyoti Kumari who cycled 1200 km amid lockdown

The girl's efforts have now been noticed by the Cycling Federation of India too.

Jyoti Kumari is a 15-year-old girl who cycled over 1200 kilometres from Gurugram to Darbhanga, Bihar with her ailing father amidst the nationwide lockdown due to the coronavirus crisis. This news has also caught the attention of Ivanka Trump, who is the daughter and a senior advisor to the President of the United States, Donald Trump.

Ivanka had earlier accompanied the POTUS to a brief official visit to India in February this year. Here, she could be seen pleasantly exclaiming her bewilderment at the feat achieved by the young Jyoti Kumari. The daughter of Donald Trump tweeted, “15 yr old Jyoti Kumari, carried her wounded father to their home village on the back of her bicycle covering +1,200 km over 7 days. This beautiful feat of endurance & love has captured the imagination of the Indian people and the cycling federation!”

It is indeed true that the Cycling Federation of India has invited the girl from Darbhanga for a trial in Delhi next month. Jyoti Kumari has an excellent opportunity in front of her as she would be selected to train at the National Cycling Academy in the capital if she manages to pass the test.

Ivanka lauded her endurance, and the Cycling Federation acknowledges the same too. Onkar Singh is the Chairman of the CFI and he believes, “She (Jyoti Kumari) must have something in her. I think cycling down more than 1200km is not a mean job. She must be having the strength and physical endurance. We want to test it.”

The plight of the migrant workers during this ongoing lockdown has been a cause of concern for the nation. Whilst a large number of them have been aided due to the Shramik Special Trains, others have found their own ways to reach back to their hometown.

Jyoti Kumari’s father is an e-rickshaw driver and he suffered an accident just prior to the commencement of this countrywide lockdown. However, he returned the rickshaw back to the owner due to lack of business in the last two months. Later on, the duo bought a bicycle from the money that they had at their disposal and embarked on their long journey from May 10.

Jyoti cycled her way to over 1200 kilometres within seven days, and her remarkable enterprise has become well-publicized in the past few days. The Cycling Federation took note of it and offered her a chance to revive her fortunes altogether. Now, Ivanka Trump, an eminent and key personality from the United States of America has recognized and appreciated this venture too.