Indian athlete mortgages land to pay way to Asian masters meet
What would Gandhi do? (Fast for a ticket to meet?)
Here’s the first story for posterity:
MANGALDAI, September 12: There are many Mary Koms in Assam struggling to attain their goals. Contrary to the tall claims of the State government in general and the Sports Department in particular, the sports persons in the State, especially in the rural areas, are deprived of government support to take their career further and to bring laurels to the State.
This is evident from the example of a poor but talented female athlete from a remote area of the State, who has been compelled to sell her power tiller and keep her agri land on mortgage only to meet the financial expenditure to represent the Indian national team in the 18th Asian Masters Athletics Championship to be held at Kitakami, Iwate Prefecture in Japan from September 19 to 23.
Meet Kunja Lata Boro of No. 1 Kacharipara village near Bhakatpara. Boro has earned high reputation in national level athletic meets on several occasions. To meet her expenses for a trip to Japan, she has sold her power tiller and kept her two bighas of agri land on mortgage.
Her husband Ashok Kumar Daimary is a farmer and a national level Kabadi referee. She has been included in the 23–member team of masters athletes from Assam to represent India in Japan. She will take part in her favourite 100–metre and 200–metre run.
So is the case with another master athlete Reena Deka from Bokul Khat of Mangaldai town.
Deka has already earned reputation in Taiwan in 2012 representing India in the 300–metre hurdles. Being a housewife and mother of two children, she too could not arrange her expenditure. However, she is luckier than Kunja Boro. Deka’s husband has taken a loan from bank to help her take part in the Asian Athletics Championship.
Though they approached various circles including the State government, Sports Department, deputy commissioner for help, they had to return empty handed.
However, Minister of State for Fisheries, Information & Public Relations cum local legislator Basanta Das has offered them an amount of Rs 10,000 each.
Both the highly optimistic Kunja Lata Boro and Reena Deka, while talking to media persons this afternoon, expressed their gratitude to all the well wishers for their support.
“I have never dreamt of visiting a foreign country like Japan, but my involvement with athletics has made it possible and I shall make all efforts to bring laurel to my motherland,” said Boro with a smile. Another athlete from Darrang, Paresh Chandra Nath, has also been included in the Indian team.
One Response
I feel very fortunate.
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