Shame: Doesn't Karnataka have Rs 1.30 lakh for an athlete?
Synopsis
Prabhuswamy, a disabled athlete, is struggling for funds Given just Rs 1.30 lakh will allow him to represent India in New Zealand The very policies of the state seem to be stopping all hopes
Playing a sport for the country is always a matter of pride. A similar pride drove Prabhuswamy, a state level Paralympic champion in shot put and javelin throw
He cracked the trials in Bengaluru two months ago and hoped to bring laurels to the country at the World Masters Games - the world's largest multi-sport event to be held in Auckland New Zealand.
Prabhuswamy was one among the 26 persons selected out of 120 during the trials. The event in New Zealand is scheduled from April 21 to April 30. But his hopes hit a dead end as the Karnataka Paralympics Committee stated it cannot afford to pay for the travel and staying expenses.
Prabhuswamy's right leg was severed in an accident when he was six years old. The disability did not deter him from taking up sports. His hopes were further fueled by an opportunity during his graduation in Mysuru.
His sheer determination got him a place in the state Volleyball team in 2006. As he hoped to take part in the international competitions, he was told to take up individual sports by his coach.
Rangaswamy, his personal coach, says that the irony in Karnataka is that the funds will be given to participants of the Olympics and Asian Games, but not for such international events.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a Paralympic person to get selected for an event like this. Sadly he cannot participate as he requires Rs 1.30 lakh, which he cannot afford," said Rangaswamy. Paralympic Committee of Karnataka Founder Mahadev admitted that the committee cannot afford such international events as it has no funds.
The committee can ask for reimbursement in case the athlete takes part in events like the Asian Games and Olympics only. And even then only Rs 30,000 will be given - once the athlete comes back.
As the Department of Sport and Youth Empowerment has also stopped giving financial assistance for such sports, talented sports persons in the disabled category are forced to beg for sponsorships.
Sadly, for people like Prabhuswamy, they will have to look towards NGOs and others to support them.
Anupam Agarwal, Director, Department of Sport and Youth Empowerment, contended that the scheme to support such sports' disciplines had been stopped from the past three years.
"Since this is a special case where the candidate is going to participate and represent India, we will look in to helping him. Let the sports person approach us at the head office, and we will try to do our best," said Agarwal.