Hockey player Vandana Katariya would practice with a tree branch during her childhood while Neha Goyal, another player from the team, worked in a factory.
Their success stories share a common thread — struggle. The government was never concerned with their preparations. Those basking on the medals today have never seen how facilities were unavailable to the players preparing at the grass-root level in the country.
So, are the speeches by ministers an act of acknowledgement, course correction or publicity?
Apart from the rewards announced by the government, the reality of players who have represented India is a story of neglect. Look at these examples:
#1. Ritu, a national-level boxer, is a parking ticket collector in Chandigarh.
#2. Naresh Tumda, winner of the Blind Cricket World Cup works as a labourer.
#3. Sunita, a strength lifting medalist from Rohtak works as a domestic worker.
#4. Sanjana Bagdi, a national-level wrestler, works in a sugarcane field.
#5. With five…