Poor athlete gets timely help from Sports Minister

Deepthika Puthran, an athlete hailing from Karnataka's Mangaluru, was recently selected for the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championship to be held in Canada later this year.  However, coming as she does from a poor background, she has been facing financial problems.  She approached the Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju and has got assured help already.

"Since my father is a fisherman and mother is a housewife, I can't go to Canada with meagre resources.  That's why I had tweeted to the Sports Minister. He replied within hours assuring help. Later, the Sports Authority of India officials called me, asked for my documents. I am getting all the support from them," she has been quoted as saying by a news agency.  

It's unfortunate that India still continues to be obsessed with one sport (cricket) and the governments continue to neglect other sports, which suffer from lack of funds often.  Helping out an individual athlete is needed but it's not sufficient.  

Deepthika Puthran, athlete from Mangaluru: I have been selected for Commonwealth Powerlifting Championship that will be held in Canada,in Sep. I need help to participate in the same.We've some financial problems since my father is a fisherman&mother is a housewife.1/2) #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/yQFJRcBEgl

— ANI (@ANI) July 13, 2019