[India] Poverty crushes spirit of weightlifters

from IBN Live

Poverty has forced three international weightlifters from Punjab to put their medals on sale.

All the three sportswomen have won many medals in different national and international weightlifting contests.

They say they hope to make some money after selling their medals and also drive home a point.

The burden of poverty has forced the Bhatinda girls to take an extreme step and they have put all the medals that they have won so far on sale.

Gold Medalist in Federation Cup and Silver Medal winner at the Asian Championship in Korea, Neelam says, "All of us are international powerlifter and have won many medals in weightlifting and powerlifting. But we have not benefitted from these awards."

Neelam could not take part in the Poland World Championship because of paucity of funds.

Sunita won a Bronze in Bulgaria World Championship and Asian Championship in Korea and was to take part in Korea World Championship, but could not afford it.

The third athlete Asha won a Gold in Asian Championship in Kazakhstan and a bronze in Poland.

Ash's father, Manmohan Dass, is a class IV employee and her brother is physically handicapped.

"Hum yehi chahte hain ki hamari Asha Rani aage chal ker khele. Uski jo bhi khle ki pratibha hai aage chal ker hamare desh ka naam roshan kare. Per meri stithi aisi hai ki mein usko help nahi ker paa raha hoon garibi ke karan (We want that Asha continues with the sports. Her talent can bring laurels for the country. But I am poor and cannot help her)," Manmohan says.

Till now, these weightlifters had been accommodated by some residents of the city.

They got the chance to go abroad after receiving money from sports-lovers and administration.

Even the sports coach was kind enough to give them free coaching but they are now fed up of collecting money from others.

Their coach Kanwar Bhim Singh says, "Istead of asking for fees we are ready to help them."

The players regret that the government has offered them neither jobs, nor money.

By putting their medals on sale, they are trying to assess the actual worth of their achievements.